Live Edition, Server Edition, or Live on PXE Server?
A partition and disk imaging/cloning program
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steven_shiau
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We are making the jump to Clonezilla after using another free solution that has ceased development. We have about 1,200 Windows machines, some XP, mostly Win7. We make different images for different models as well as certain computer labs that have specialized software. All toll, this represents about 30 different images. Over the summer when we purchase new PCs we could be imaging up to 25 at the same time with a computer lab refresh. During the school year we do a lot of imaging but it is typically one machine at a time.
I have read through a lot of Clonezilla documentation as well as viewed a few youtube videos. Still having a hard time deciding between which direction to head with Clonezilla.
What types of things should I be considering when deciding on version?
Any suggestions?
I suggest you choose all. :)
For restoring 25 machines, use Clonezilla SE (you could use DRBL live to make that).
For one machine restoring, if not connected to your Clonezilla server, use Clonezilla live on USB stick, or CD.
All the images are the same, no matter it's Clonezilla SE, or Clonezilla live. Therefore it's very easy for you to switch them.
Steven.
It is great to hear that the images are the same regardless so mix and match can be done. We probably try them all to get a feel for them
Still trying to figure out the pros/cons of using Clonezilla Server versus Clonezilla Live on a PXE server as shown here:
http://www.clonezilla.org/livepxe.php
Are these two methods really the same thing?
No, they are not really the same. The latter is only to boot Clonezilla live from PXE. It can not be used for multicast restoring.
While this one is really for Clonezilla SE:
http://clonezilla.org/clonezilla-SE/use_clonezilla_live_in_drbl.php
Steven.
We are a K-12 school district. Our network is 10 gig at the core and 1 gig switched to clients. We typically only image large quantities of machines over the summer when there are few people on campus. We have never used multicast. I know unicast can saturate the network but even when doing 25 machines at once, we just start them and go away for a period of time. The last ones we start do just sit and wait until earlier ones finish but again over the summer we typically have plenty of bandwidth.
With so many ways to go, any suggestions:
Clonezilla SE?
Clonezilla Live on PXE server?
Is this
http://clonezilla.org/clonezilla-SE/use_clonezilla_live_in_drbl.php
the same as this
http://www.clonezilla.org/livepxe.php
My thought is to spin up two virtual servers, one with ClonezillaSE and one with Clonezilla Live running on a PXE server and test both
Last edit: David Henderson 2013-04-20
If you do not care about the time, try "Clonezilla Live on PXE server?" with unicast. It's easier.
Actually "Clonezilla Live on PXE server? could also run in multicast mode.
Just try them, and you will find the best one that fits your need.
Steven.