8 replies to this topic

[giorgosg]

Hello!
Not sure but i hope its the right section! (couldnt find something better)

I recently started a project for pxe booting at my lab.
Because of i want to use many utilities i chose tftpd32.
It boots pxe linux with choices like winpe, disk diagnostics, etc
Everything is working really ok.
I want to make a category for disk imaging via network, so i
intergrate the Acronis Rescue Media to it, in order to make/restore
images via network (it was the first thought for disk imaging).

My problems are:
Acronis True Image 2009, cannot recognize some of my laptops' NIC, but it
recognizes its hdd.
Acronis True Image 2010, cannot recognize some of my laptops' hdd, but i havnt
seen any incompatibility with NIC yet.

Searched on Acronis forums, i found many people have the same problem.

My question is:
What product do you use for network-based imaging?
Is there a program that can image the whole hdd (+track0, mbr) and apply
it throught network without problems?

Please help!
Thanks in advance

[was_jaclaz]

My question is:
What product do you use for network-based imaging?
Is there a program that can image the whole hdd (+track0, mbr) and apply
it throught network without problems?

Please help!
Thanks in advance

There are a number of tools (for "plain" imaging), the "hopefully complete" list is here:
http://www.msfn.org/...100299.html&hl=

The approach I would take is to have a "known" OS running (being it a PE or a Linux of some kind) and use in it a "plain" imaging app.

If I were you, I would try PING first thing, as it is designed exactly for that:
http://ping.windowsdream.com/

Basically it is a pre-configured Linux+imaging utility, which should allow to add NIC's drivers at will.



jaclaz

[giorgosg]

There are a number of tools (for "plain" imaging), the "hopefully complete" list is here:
http://www.msfn.org/...100299.html&hl=

The approach I would take is to have a "known" OS running (being it a PE or a Linux of some kind) and use in it a "plain" imaging app.

If I were you, I would try PING first thing, as it is designed exactly for that:
http://ping.windowsdream.com/

Basically it is a pre-configured Linux+imaging utility, which should allow to add NIC's drivers at will.



jaclaz

i am trying not to use a program from winpe because this will be much slower than finding something
that can boot directly from pxelinux.
ill give a try to PING,
MANY THANKS )

[giorgosg]

it seems very good, lightweight and similar to clonezilla interface.
i ve just made/applied my first 1:1 image and everything went OK!


A small problem (small because on my tests, NIC was recognized) is
that on documentation, there is no help adding drivers, neither a reference too.

The previous list you gave me with all imaging tools gathered is prefect..
But i wonder how much of them do they work in pxe and are drivers-add free

[rog]

hello

at this point it seems FOG is not so famous

i use it for my pxe deployments

http://www.fogprojec...n...45&Itemid=1

rog

[was_jaclaz]

@rog
Yep , fog is already listed in the linked to thread:
http://www.msfn.org/...99-page-70.html

also g4u:
http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/
http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/#netboot

and Frisbee:
http://www.cs.utah.e...nix03-base.html

Have a similar approach.


@giorgosg
About adding NIC drivers, you will need to learn "generic" how to add a NIC driver on Linux, though usually Natan is very fast in adding missing drivers.

In other words, wait until you actually have a problem, before trying to resolve it .

BUT, if you want to troubleshoot non-existing problems, you are very welcome , though I feel how your google-fu is low :
http://ping.windowsd...p...?f=7&t=5471
http://ping.windowsd...p...?f=7&t=6110
http://ping.windowsd...p...?f=7&t=6359

You may ask on the Forum where the latest configuration file .config is available, though if you use some fantasy, you should find it allright :
http://www.windowsdr...m/dl/PING_3.00/
http://www.windowsdr...NG_3.00/.config



jaclaz

[giorgosg]

thanks rog, ill give a try too. it seems that it has more graphical interface that will be easier for my co-workers to work with.

jaclaz, finally i understood how to make the .cfg, i booted into shell, but when i tried to add the share by mount.cifs it returns with error 6 and prompts me to read the manual.

cifs_mount failed with return code 6

[was_jaclaz]

jaclaz, finally i understood how to make the .cfg, i booted into shell, but when i tried to add the share by mount.cifs it returns with error 6 and prompts me to read the manual.

cifs_mount failed with return code 6

Which unfortunately I personally read as I would Vogon poetry:
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Vogon#Poetry
http://hitchhikers.w...ki/Vogon_Poetry

Thus what I get is:

jaclaz, that mordiously hath bitled out, its earted jurtles i booted into slurping hagrilly up the axlegrurts and living glupules frart and slipulate or else I shall rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon

See if I don't.

Comeon , there is a whole Forum dedicated to Ping:
http://ping.windowsd...ewforum.php?f=7
wouldn't it be probable that the guys over there will be able to better answer questions regarding the configuration of "their" app and or solve your specific doubts on it?



jaclaz

[giorgosg]

haha:))

sure, i just thought you are using the program so you might have faced similar problems.
thanks a lot, ill ask the guys !