RIS Server

[lmason]

I'm a newbie to RIS... How many desktops can I image at one time from one RIS Server. I'll be connecting the server directly to the switch that services each lab... Each computer has it's own dedicated 100MB link back to the 100 MB switch... The server is a HP DL360 with a 3 gig processor and 2 gigs memory... For example: Can I have 24 machines imaging at the same time? Just a rough idea of how much time is required would be great.... Also, I've thouroughly enjoyed Jeremy's writings.. Some of the best I've seen for my experience level..

Well, it's tricky.. in a nutshell, you have to get over that big 500MB "hump" when downloading the image. I've been able to do 12, but haven't pushed it past that. 24 might work..

Try it out.. let us know your time trials for 1, 2, 10, and 20. :-)

Thanks !

[AdamV]

This is where Ghost beats RIS hands down for it's multicast abilities and it's use of comression. I have imaged up to 40 machines at a time, across normal structured LAN (ie switches hung off switches at end of fibre links). Time taken for all these is not much worse than for doing 1 at a time (maybe 15 to 20%, but still faster than doing in two runs).

Obviously, fixed Ghost images are a completely different proposition to a real 'build' via RIS, which has it's own advantages, most obviously hardware independence.

[graycat]

I agree with Adam - ghost is far faster than RIS but by itself ghost is very hardware dependant.

To get round that I use a product call Universal Imaging Utility (UIU) which basically takes care of the sysprep side of things and stuffs a ton of drivers into the image with next to no bloat. the end image can then be used on prety much any type of hardware going, eg: i've done a XP Pro image about 18 months ago and managed to use that on an older PC, a brand new PC last week (had to check it) and even laptops!! very very highly recommend it.

Tim.

[lmason]

All good info.. Thx.. I've inherited a mess since joining my new employer (private high school) We're running 4-5 different Dell Optiplex's across 256 machines.. All machines need to be wiped due to our MS migration, virus issues, lack of patching etc... UIU sounds great, but budget limitations will probably force me to use RIS.... I read a MS article boasting 75 machines at once with lighting fast speeds. Real world environments outside of a MS lab are probably another story so I won't plan my schedule on it.. I'll boot 24 machines and see what happens.. That will take care of a lab in one day hopefully.. Any other advise would be great... I'll repost with my results in July after a test run.. Keep the good info coming

[lmason]

I'm able to image 8-12 machines at once. I haven't pushed for more then that since I can customize the first twelve while the next twelve are burning in.. It takes about 40 minutes per machine with large images(Office 2003, In Design CS2 and Photoshop..... A success overall.. On a side note, my six year old D-Link DSS-24 switchs would not pass the RIS image traffic between themselves.. NO configuaration options on the switch.. To get around it, I have to connect a $30.00 Linksys 5 port switch between the two D-Link switches so traffic will pass... The only probelm with this is I have eight IDF's (2 D-Links per closet) so I have to drag the RIS server to each switch closet and connect it to the switch there and then also set up the Linksys router so traffic will pass...