Imaging software (paid for)

edscdk · 30 Sep 2023 at 16:43

We cannot use open source software, we need to image 1000 laptops upto 30 at a time. The machine will occasionally fail / get replaced or come back and be imaged again.

Any recommendation?

andshrew · 30 Sep 2023 at 17:19

The Microsoft way would be one of these depending on how much you want to spend and how invested you are in Azure.

MDT/WDS
SCCM
Windows Autopilot

Otherwise look at tools like https://www.smartdeploy.com/

brendy · 30 Sep 2023 at 17:22

We use SCCM, not the fastest but seems fairly solid.

edscdk · 30 Sep 2023 at 17:24

andshrew said:
The Microsoft way would be one of these depending on how much you want to spend and how invested you are in Azure.

MDT/WDS
SCCM
Windows Autopilot

Otherwise look at tools like https://www.smartdeploy.com/

I'm fighting with wds at the moment, what we want is so simple wds seems so hard compared to clonezilla or Acronis I'll take a look at smartdeploy thanks

nade · 2 Oct 2023 at 14:21

You mentioned Acronis, have you tried that?

[Edit] Geez, just seen the latest pricing for Acronis, don't like subscriptions, shame they don't like a one-off. I've got a fairly old version and always found it to work OK, but not done the quantity of imaging that you're looking to do.

Also seen FOG recently which is open-source. Not had a chance to try it but looks like it could be good.

FOG Project

A free open-source network computer cloning and management solution

fogproject.org

Philtor · 2 Oct 2023 at 14:41

What about Macrium reflect? There is no free version now btw.