Remote Desktops and Imaging / Rebuilds

[Board Game Geek]

I'm pretty solid on using tried and tested tools, like Norton Ghost and attending a site with an image, then blasting it to a local HDD.

What I am hazy on is how to do this remotely, to a user in say Scotland, whilst I am in London, and what decent tools and products there are out there to do this ?

I've used PXE in the office, when building machines and getting the image from a server locally, but I wonder what folks use these days to do it remotely ?

Ideally with as little user technical input as possible.

I'd appreciate any constructive comments from those currently using such technologies. Thank you !

[stek]

Not sure I'm helping here but in the enterprise Unix world we have an ILO or SP - ie a separate little integral card or box that can boot the box, halt it, power it off and stay alive so long os it's plugged in.

That way we can always start again, boot cd, boot network, anytime.

Dunno about the PC world though.

[doodab]

Not sure I'm helping here but in the enterprise Unix world we have an ILO or SP - ie a separate little integral card or box that can boot the box, halt it, power it off and stay alive so long os it's plugged in.

That way we can always start again, boot cd, boot network, anytime.

Dunno about the PC world though.

x86 servers usually have the same sort of remote management facilities with built in VNC servers / KVM over IP & the ability to mount media remotely.

Desktops & Laptops generally don't have this though some recent ones might, via something called Intel AMT. Having said that, I don't think I've ever seen one, but then I'm not really a desktop hardware guy.

[2BIT]

I'm going to attempt putting my old laptop disk image onto a new laptop so will be watching this thread with interest

[Spacecadet]

I'm going to attempt putting my old laptop disk image onto a new laptop so will be watching this thread with interest

something like Acronis has the ability to restore a backup to different hardware. Its not free though and apparently the current version is tulip

[2BIT]

something like Acronis has the ability to restore a backup to different hardware. Its not free though and apparently the current version is tulip

yeah have a version of that but if its tulip really wont bother with it - norton has a bad rep for me due to the anti-virus stuff but maybe should give ghost a go

what I need it to do is just work - straight out of the box. take image of disk, copy image on blank hard drive (haven't worked how yet) and then hopefully start new laptop and its the same as my old one

[Platypus]

what I need it to do is just work - straight out of the box. take image of disk, copy image on blank hard drive (haven't worked how yet) and then hopefully start new laptop and its the same as my old one

You'll be lucky - different hardware, drivers, etc. No chance.

I couldn't get the Acronis thing to even restore, nevermind to different hardware. An absolute bag o'tulipe sorry to say. Just when I needed it

[Spacecadet]

yeah have a version of that but if its tulip really wont bother with it - norton has a bad rep for me due to the anti-virus stuff but maybe should give ghost a go

what I need it to do is just work - straight out of the box. take image of disk, copy image on blank hard drive (haven't worked how yet) and then hopefully start new laptop and its the same as my old one

what version have you got? I'm running 2010 which runs fine
it should be as straight forward as connecting external dive with backup to new laptop and then running a restore on the new laptop

[2BIT]

You'll be lucky - different hardware, drivers, etc. No chance.

I couldn't get the Acronis thing to even restore, nevermind to different hardware. An absolute bag o'tulipe sorry to say. Just when I needed it

bugger I've just realised that you're right - I could easily fix the drivers but don't know if ill even be able to get into windows to do that

[2BIT]

what version have you got? I'm running 2010 which runs fine
it should be as straight forward as connecting external dive with backup to new laptop and then running a restore on the new laptop

its on me other laptop so will have to check

What platypus has said had got me thinking and think ill have to match the hardware first - i originally thought that getting the O/S, registry etc was all I needed to replicate but of course the drivers will be unique to my hardware - hmmm still think I could kludge it but would need a custom built lappy and more patience than I have.... need to think this through