Cloning Groups of Computers Using the Clonezilla Server
Cloning i-cafe Computers
How to Clone Groups of Computers Using Clonezilla Server
The problem: Purchases or donations of multiple identical computers / laptops require a standardized setup before deploying them on campus. Setiing up and configuring computers for campus use can take several hours for a single computer. Commercial cloning software licensing can be costly.
The solution: Set up ONE computer in a standardized configuration and then duplicate it exactly to the other computers using a method known as cloning or disk imaging. Avoid high licensing costs for commercial cloning software by using Clonezilla Server, a free open source software.
The method used here is multicast imaging.
This is a preferred method of re-imaging many computers simultaneously. Using multicasting, a roomful of computers will image in the same time as a single computer using other methods.
Example using 6 clients and a network switch:
There are 4 main steps to successfully imaging groups of computers. 1. Install and configure an image server. 2. Setup a mini cloning station. 3. Clone the master computer to an image file. 4. Create clones from the master image file. To do this you will need:
An Ubuntu Linux computer with Clonezilla installed.
A simple 10/100 or 10/100/1000 network switch with 8 ports or more.
Ethernet network cables connecting all computers to the switch.
A fully configured Windows computer as the "Master" computer.
All the computers must be able to boot up from the network card. (PXE booting)
One or more computers to be cloned from the master.
Step 1. Install and configure an image server. * First install Ubuntu Linux Desktop
Download and install the latest Ubuntu Desktop release on a spare computer or laptop. A recent computer with a Pentium 4 processor or better, 512MB ram and 40GB drive or more will suffice. This computer needs internet access to download software during installation.
The Ubuntu download is
How to Clone Groups of Computers Using Clonezilla Server
The problem: Purchases or donations of multiple identical computers / laptops require a standardized setup before deploying them on campus. Setiing up and configuring computers for campus use can take several hours for a single computer. Commercial cloning software licensing can be costly.
The solution: Set up ONE computer in a standardized configuration and then duplicate it exactly to the other computers using a method known as cloning or disk imaging. Avoid high licensing costs for commercial cloning software by using Clonezilla Server, a free open source software.
The method used here is multicast imaging.
This is a preferred method of re-imaging many computers simultaneously. Using multicasting, a roomful of computers will image in the same time as a single computer using other methods.
Example using 6 clients and a network switch:
There are 4 main steps to successfully imaging groups of computers. 1. Install and configure an image server. 2. Setup a mini cloning station. 3. Clone the master computer to an image file. 4. Create clones from the master image file. To do this you will need:
An Ubuntu Linux computer with Clonezilla installed.
A simple 10/100 or 10/100/1000 network switch with 8 ports or more.
Ethernet network cables connecting all computers to the switch.
A fully configured Windows computer as the "Master" computer.
All the computers must be able to boot up from the network card. (PXE booting)
One or more computers to be cloned from the master.
Step 1. Install and configure an image server. * First install Ubuntu Linux Desktop
Download and install the latest Ubuntu Desktop release on a spare computer or laptop. A recent computer with a Pentium 4 processor or better, 512MB ram and 40GB drive or more will suffice. This computer needs internet access to download software during installation.
The Ubuntu download is