Overview

Originally developed by IT staff at Camosun College (Victoria BC, Canada), CamCast Computer Lab Imaging (CCCLI) is a system that uses Microsoft Virtual Hard drive (VHD) technology to rapidly deploy drive images to multiple target clients while these targets are being used. Its intended use compliments Windows Deployment Services (WDS). VHDs can be deployed via BitTorrent, multicast, or direct unicast. BITs deployment may be implemented in future releases. This system was developed to ease student computer lab management. It is a replacement for other imagecast products like Symantec Ghost (tm).

CCCLI is a functional system currently being used at Camosun College. Currently, it is roughly mid-to-late Alpha stage. It works, but it is site-specific, there is no installer, configuration and use is extremely technical, and the code-base needs a complete rewrite. Administration is via server-based PowerShell script. There is no GUI. There are future plans to add one.

The basic rationale behind CCCLI is an attempt to get away from taking a lab full of computers down for re-imaging and then hoping said image-cast works and the computers are operation before the next scheduled class. This system allows the image to be moved from the server to all the clients, in a variety of ways, while students are using the clients. These images are then activated by server-based commands and the clients are then rebooted into this new image. The new image, typically sysprepped, goes through the necessary setup stages and is then ready to use, often in less than 20 minutes.

The basic process also allows for multi-boot where client systems can be switched between boot images via server-based commands.