hey guys,
at work I often have to install our software onto client PC's for shipment, I've started using Acronis True Image to make this task easier but I've noticed the universal restore isn't the best solution to working with different hardware. I'm wondering if there's an easier (or more light weight) method of handling this.
[QUOTE=Lebofly;52694864]hey guys,
at work I often have to install our software onto client PC's for shipment, I've started using Acronis True Image to make this task easier but I've noticed the universal restore isn't the best solution to working with different hardware. I'm wondering if there's an easier (or more light weight) method of handling this.[/QUOTE]
Set up the installation of Windows with all the software you need on it. Run sysprep to generalize the image. Capture an image with Acronis and use that image to restore to other machines. Sysprep removes all unique identifiers of the OS and basically allows it to function barebones on any system. You'll have to go and look for all the drivers after doing a re-image, but it beats having to set up from scratch.
To facilitate the installation of drivers you can use SnappyDriver. It looks and sounds like malware but it 100% is not. It's basically a massive local driver database you can download and run on machines with a flash drive. Any necessary drivers it finds you can go through and install one at a time or all at once without connecting to the internet. Useful for offline installs.
Are these several different standard configurations or just all over the place?
Depending on the clients we use different versions/variations of our software and OS's. Thanks for that Haloguy234, sysprep /generalize looks like the way to go. I'll start creating images using the different variations of operating systems and software.
Remember to update the computer before you make the image, especially if it's Win7. You'll thank yourself for wasting the time later on.
I would think that some type of installation package would actually be easiest. Given you have a bit of know how on how to do these things. I think this would be simpler than dicking with anything to do with imaging. You wouldn't really need to worry about the OS or hardware and let the installer deal with it. Also, as far as drivers go you can get a driver pack to handle all that too. I only see imaging being effective if you have to install the OS's or if there is a lot of software that needs to be installed.
I used to do a similar thing at a pc shop (installing os's and software and drivers). I found my best solution to help my lazy ass was to make a script to install everything. I later figured out that you could create some type of installation package to get everything going. Yet, I never got around to making one. I really have no clue how difficult it is, but I figure google can be handy enough.
[QUOTE=neonwhite;52696262]I would think that some type of installation package would actually be easiest. Given you have a bit of know how on how to do these things. I think this would be simpler than dicking with anything to do with imaging. You wouldn't really need to worry about the OS or hardware and let the installer deal with it. Also, as far as drivers go you can get a driver pack to handle all that too. I only see imaging being effective if you have to install the OS's or if there is a lot of software that needs to be installed.
I used to do a similar thing at a pc shop (installing os's and software and drivers). I found my best solution to help my lazy ass was to make a script to install everything. I later figured out that you could create some type of installation package to get everything going. Yet, I never got around to making one. I really have no clue how difficult it is, but I figure google can be handy enough.[/QUOTE]
Installation of this software is a bit of a headache as it requires configuration
Yeah sometimes deploying a pre-configured image is far faster. If you're just getting random client systems in a sysprep image will probably be your best bet. Far easier to set up than some alternatives too.
I use Acronis OS Deploy. It utilizes the same backend software as True Image but uses a server where you can keep a directory of .tib (images you've made) files to push to the client machines.
It works amazing. I can deploy a 10GB .tib image loaded will all the software/configuartions I need in under 10 minutes. This would be great for you because it uses a feature called "Universal Drivers" where you give the software all the drivers you could ever use for all your different machines and it will pick the drivers it needs from the list on it's own.
We're an all Lenovo shop and have varying models coming across our desks all the time. I just downloaded the SCCM from Lenovo for each model and dump it into OS Deploy and it does the rest for me.
That's along the lines of what I was initially going to recommend but it sounds like he just has too many different hardware configurations for that to be really viable.
Well I've started my collection of images based on Hardware but obviously now I'll create a new collection based on software configurations/variations thanks to the solution from haloguy
Another related question, is there any recommended KVM switches or other devices that'll assist turning and controlling multiple machines at once?
[QUOTE=Levelog;52699070]That's along the lines of what I was initially going to recommend but it sounds like he just has too many different hardware configurations for that to be really viable.[/QUOTE]
Well that's just the thing. You can just keep adding to the driver repository and it will keep choosing the best drivers it can find in your list. The best thing is that different hardware can often use the same drivers. It would be whatever you make it.
[QUOTE=Lebofly;52699460]Well I've started my collection of images based on Hardware but obviously now I'll create a new collection based on software configurations/variations thanks to the solution from haloguy
Another related question, is there any recommended KVM switches or other devices that'll assist turning and controlling multiple machines at once?[/QUOTE]
How many ports do you need? The nice ones are pricy, but worth it. With a good 10 port one I was able to image and configure 60 systems a day on a contract I had.
Most PC's I've had to do in a day is probably 13, I've put in a request for a KVM Switch so we'll see what comes from that
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