Too many un-manageable Windows OS images

[Spin]

Gurus,

I have been tasked to come up with a way to better manage our system of OS
images for our company. We are a fairly large non-profit with different
hardware platforms. Right now, I have a ghost image (including company
software applications) for 15 different platforms. It is getting
un-manageable. I have a ghost image for every one. Everytime an
application changes I have to go and re-do everything. Is there a better
way?

 

[Malke]

Gurus,

I have been tasked to come up with a way to better manage our system
of OS
images for our company. We are a fairly large non-profit with
different
hardware platforms. Right now, I have a ghost image (including
company
software applications) for 15 different platforms. It is getting
un-manageable. I have a ghost image for every one. Everytime an
application changes I have to go and re-do everything. Is there a
better way?

Yes, and I just read a really good in-depth article about this in the
May-June issue of TechNet Magazine. The article is called "Desktop
Deployment - Techniques for Simplifying Desktop Image Creation" and
addresses your exact issue. If the magazine isn't available in
RealSpace where you are, go to TechNet's Desktop Deployment Center:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/desktopdeployment/default.mspx

Malke

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Gurus,

I have been tasked to come up with a way to better manage our system of OS
images for our company. We are a fairly large non-profit with different
hardware platforms. Right now, I have a ghost image (including company
software applications) for 15 different platforms. It is getting
un-manageable. I have a ghost image for every one. Everytime an
application changes I have to go and re-do everything. Is there a better
way?

You could automate the process like so:
- Purchase an appropriate number of Snapshot
(http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/down.htm)
- Schedule a task on each machine to run snapshot.exe
in command line mode once every month.
- Always keep the two most recent image files.
- For extra protection, run a scheduled task on a
a machine with a large disk to store the most
recent image files.

Once the process is in place it requires no manual
involvement.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Acronis True Image is imaging software that can be scheduled to create
daily incremental backups of the changes made to the setup. The image can be
directed to be saved to a hidden partition called "the acronis zone" on a
hard drive. If you need to do a restore you can simply press F11 at computer
startup to select any of the incremental backups and do the restore. Because
Acronis True Image can be scheduled to run in the background the user
doesn't have to shut down while the image is being created.
www.acronis.com