[itdiscuss] PC Cloning Software

Fri Jan 23 11:44:19 EST 2009

While our imaging process involves a non-free replication solution
(Logicube Sonix) and you desire a no/low cost solution I can speak to
your other concerns.

We do not sysprep our images. A syspreped  image can be altered only a
limited number of times (I think its three). After that a new image must
be created from scratch. Maintaining our image (usually on a physical
HDD that matches that of our systems, we maintain a different image for
each machine type we have in current production) pre-sysprep allows us
to alter (i.e. apply updates, install new apps, un-install apps no
longer used, etc.) without the re-sysprep limitation. If you will not be
updating your master image, this will not be a problem and you might as
well use sysprep.

The biggest issue I see with the need for sysprep is that of SIDs. The
security identifier should be unique for each system. If the systems are
never on the same network this is not a problem either. But, if they are
on a network together and are replicated without sysprep or newsid etc.,
duplicate SIDs create some interesting security concerns.

However, in an Active Directory domain, each computer joined to the
domain is issued a unique SID appendage that makes these machines
distinct on the network and in the domain. Thus the reason I don't use
sysprep.

To avoid the re-activation issue, we create our images using media from
a Microsoft Open License agreement. It's been a long time but at one
long ago reading I read that this was Microsoft's only officially
supported replication basis. Using a manufacturers media to create
replication masters was somehow construed as inappropriate and frowned
upon (if not deemed against the EULA outright).

In practice, we have found that the Dell OS media that comes with the
machines we order (don't you all ask for the re-install media too?) is
compatible with the replication process and does not require the
activation step. Presumably, that would have to do with the installation
being able to detect that the system is a Dell platform on the system
that is the basis for our "master" of that type. That being said, if I
can ever find the statement that Open License media is the only media
that is acceptable, I'll cease using the Dell media. That will just mean
that I have to install the drivers and supplemental software manually.

Microsoft Office is also a part of our image and is installed from Open
License media which prevents the need to activate it as well.

Bobby Stewart

Network Analyst

Brentwood Baptist Church

Brentwood, TN

(615) 324-6149 office

(615) 830-0012 cell

From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of blloyd at buskercom.com
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 7:35 AM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] PC Cloning Software

Thank you.  Do you use sysprep before creating images?  Also, do you
have a way to avoid the re-activation problem?

Thanks,

Bill Lloyd 
IT Manager

2567 Athens Hwy.
Gainesville, GA 30507
Phone: 770-417-1604
Fax:     770-417-1747
Cell:     404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com

This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and
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From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of Jason Powell
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:22 PM
To: IT Discussion Forum
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] PC Cloning Software

For basic cloning we're using the free clonezilla software

From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of blloyd at buskercom.com
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:09 PM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: [itdiscuss] PC Cloning Software

Anyone have a recommendation for PC cloning software?  I'm looking for
something free or cheap.  I've tried using G4U but it won't recognize
the drive, which is a SATA drive.  Any other ideas?

Bill Lloyd 
IT Manager

2567 Athens Hwy.
Gainesville, GA 30507
Phone: 770-417-1604
Fax:     770-417-1747
Cell:     404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com

This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and
proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are
requested to delete this entire communication immediately. Emails cannot
be guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses. The sender does
not accept any liability or responsibility for any problems that may
result from emails you receive.

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