I am looking for a software package similar to replace Norton Ghost by
Symmantec

I run a training center with various identical PC machines, and we
have different configurations that we put onto them.  Currently, we
use Norton Ghost to create an image, burn the image to a CD, then pop
the CD into each computer.  The Enterprise edition of Ghost includes
the ability to serve the images over a network (as does other $$$
packages like ImageCast), which is what we'd do, but we're too poor to
afford the Enterprise version.  I'm looking for a free or open-source
system that functions similarly to what Norton Ghost Enterprise does.
(ie. central image server, network-based imaging).  It doesn't matter
what OS the image server or client diskette runs on, so long as it can
handle both Windows and Linux images for the target workstations.

Requirements for the software are:
-Handles various types of PC filesystems (FAT, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2,
EXT3)
-Clones just a partition or entire drive
-Reads the image over a network (ie. can capture a "template"
machine's image)
-Writes the image over the network (ie. can clone the template image
to others)
-*lets you expand partitions to fill the drive
-*allows chinging SID or other post-imaging configuration

*optional, but would be great if it had these features.

Thanks!

---

Request for Question Clarification by maniac-ga on 16 Jan 2003 10:14 PST

Hello Legomaniac,

I can point you to a free suite of tools for Linux only. It *may* be
adaptable to Windows, but I cannot be sure at this point. Of your
requirements it can:
 - handle the file systems (based on the Linux OS it uses)
 - clones the entire drive (it may be able to do a single partition -
I cannot be sure)
 - reads / writes the image over the network
 - allows you to expand the partition size (to fill the drive)
 - performs post imaging configuration (both automatic and user
specified)
If this is what you want, let me know so I can answer or I'll leave it
open to another researcher.
  --Maniac

---

Clarification of Question by legomaniac-ga on 17 Jan 2003 08:26 PST

Hi maniac-ga,
   Our training labs are Windows-based if the students sign up for
Windows classes, and Linux-based if they sign up for Linux classes. 
The ability to do Windows AND Linux is a must.  Post-imaging
configuration isn't really too much an issue.  I'd be happy even if
there are beta or in-development projects out there that do what I'm
looking for, since our production environment isn't extremely strict.

---

Clarification of Question by legomaniac-ga on 18 Jan 2003 16:59 PST

http://rfhs8012.fh-regensburg.de/~feyrer/g4u/ 
It indeed looks like something we can work with!  THANKS!

Please post the comment as an answer, and I'll gladly double the
original amount.  (I didn't realize open-source Ghost clones were so
difficult to find)

Hi, 
 
I'm glad you have found what you are looking for:
 
http://rfhs8012.fh-regensburg.de/~feyrer/g4u/ 
 
For future reference, this was a bookmark I read about at Slashdot
(http://slashdot.org) a while ago. Quite useful site for technology
and particularly open-source related news.
 
Regards 
Bio

I'm more and more convinced that ANYTHING can be found on the Internet!  Thanks!

legomaniac-ga,

You probably want to look into the standard unit utility "dd". I'm not
enough of an expert on it to give you clear guidance on how to use it
though.

krobert-ga

Hi,

I don't want to write this as an answer, because your satisfaction
with the features offered may vary. But you can try

http://rfhs8012.fh-regensburg.de/~feyrer/g4u/

If this is what you are looking for, let me know :-)

Regards
Bio

Apparently google isn't allowing new "researchers" right now, but
this: mkcdrec.ota.be is what you are looking for. I have used it for
backing up windows and linux partitons, but I have not used it over a
network. It should support everything you need.