Computer Deployment Software

From RSCWMWiki

Introduction

Computer deployment software, also known as disk cloning software, can be used to automate operating system and application installation. The software works by making an image of the disk of a "master" computer and then copying that image to other computers. The computer to which the image is being copied will load a minimal operating system, or Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE), over the network from a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server. It will then copy the image of the master computer to its disk. A technique known as IP multicasting is used to optimize simultaneous image deployment to multiple computers.

Examples of Computer Deployment Software

	License	Deployment Server	Supported Clients	Multicasting	Management Interface
Acronis Snap Deploy 3	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows	Microsoft Windows (32-bit)	Yes	Windows GUI
Altiris Client Management Suite	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows	Microsoft Windows (32/64-bit) Linux	Yes	Windows GUI
Clonezilla Server Edition	Open Source	Linux	Microsoft Windows (32/64-bit) Linux Intel-based Mac	Yes	Linux text-based graphics
Fog	Open Source	Linux	Microsoft Windows (32/64-bit) Linux Mac [1]	Yes	Graphical browser
Microsoft Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK)	Proprietary (free)	Microsoft Windows	Microsoft Windows 7 (32/64-bit)	Yes	Windows GUI
Microsoft Systems Center Configuration Manager	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows	Microsoft Windows (32/64-bit)	Yes	Windows GUI