Clonezilla image on Windows server

[Ruth at C2SDK]

We run a Windows server (2008) as our network server and have been keeping our Ghost images on it. We access that through the use of a Hiren CD on each system to be imaged. We have about 20 work stations networked to our server and the techs can image multiple systems at one time.

Now, we are beginning to switch to Clonezilla and would like to still keep our cloned image on the Windows server if possible. Then, the technician can hopefully access it from the Clonezilla Live CD.

OK, so, here's my problem. I haven't figured out how to get to the Windows server through Clonezilla Live. I know many of you use a Linux server to push the image to multiple drives, but in our operation we pull the image to one system at a time. I also know many of you are much more familiar with Clonezilla and Linux than I am. Thankfully.

Is there a way to access the image on our Windows server from Clonezilla Live? It does give choices other than local disk, ie SSH server, Samba server, NFS Server, and Enter Shell. Since I am not versed in Linux, nor am I a network pro, I don't know what those are or how to use them. I'm researching them now.

I can usually figure something out, but I thought I would poll this group to see if someone has a way for me to do this or an alternative method.

I appreciate any insight someone can provide. We want to begin using Clonezilla as soon as possible.

Thanks,
Ruth Cornett
C2SDK.org

[Ryan McDowell]

Hello Ruth

You can use a WinBox as the storage for you images. To be clear(Just
in case) the images you created with other tools will not be
restorable using clonezilla. You will need to dump them back to the
machine(you do not need to start windows after you image it back) and
reimage it back to the server using clonzilla live to create the image
in the correct format.

Using clonezilla live you will not be able to use multicasting for
deployment. To mount your windows style network share using clonezilla
live the steps and format are as follows::::::

Boot CZ (clonezilla)
select you lang and keyboard (defaults are fine)
select start clonezilla
select device image
select samba server
select DHCP(I'm guessing you network is setup to hand out IP addresses)
type in the IP address of your windows server(Hostname will also work
if your network is setup correctly)
type in your domain name (If it is set but usually not needed)
type the user name of user that has read/write access to the folder you will use
type the folder name that you are using ( usually the share name )
type in your password to access this share in your WinBox
If everything is correct CZ should scroll a mount table that shows
your windows share mounted at the bottom of the listing
If so press enter
You should now be at the cloning options
Select beginner mode
If there are images that can be restored on the server share it will
offer the option to save or restore disk or part
if there isn't images that can be restored it will offer the save options only
From here all options are the same as using a local save restore location.

There are short hand command line equivalents to these steps. I can
cover this later if you need it.

Just a note: Win shares (SMB) are slower then Unix NFS due to overhead
differences. When implemented correctly NFS in my experience reduced
image deployment time by as much as 30%. My deployment environment saw
a increase from 700Mb to 1000Mb by changing from SMB to NFS when I
switch it a few years back. Once you become more familiar with CZ and
Linux this may be another way to increase your speed.

Ryan Mc.

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[racornett921]

Ryan,

Thanks so very much. I've heard you are a genius. I'll give this a try this week.

Ruth

[Michael Furst]

Ruth,

What roles are already installed on your Windows 2008 Server? If you already have a domain, DNS, DHCP, in place it really is only a short jump to Windows Deployment Services to allow for Network or PXE booting for imaging computers. I might be biased, but the Microsoft RPK may be reasonable solution for you as well. It also works without all those listed Roles if you are okay installing via USB drive or Boot CD. If you have any questions regarding RPK, or if anyone else has questions feel free to visit  http://store.pcrr.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=37 or contact me directly. I apologize if this comes of as a sales pitch, but I think it is a powerful tool that can simplify the imaging process for many. 

Michael Furst

PCRR

---

From: refurb...@googlegroups.com [refurb...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of racornett921 [racorn...@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 9:59 PM
To: refurb...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Refurbishers List] Clonezilla image on Windows server

[racornett921]

Michael,

Thanks for the info. I am waiting for our Windows 7 RPK to arrive any day and I will begin learning how to use that. We do have a domain controller and 2 other servers on the network. One server is used just for refurb files and that's the one the techs have access to. I'm also signed up for the Nov. full day on RPK, but I need to get something going before that.

Ruth

[Pat Furr]

The good news is that Windows 7 sysprep is so much easier than Windows XP.  In general Windows 7 contains many of the drivers needed.  It is a breeze compared to Windows XP.  Enjoy!

[racornett921]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and words of encouragement. I've done one Windows 7 sysprep and was amazed at how much easier it was than XP.
Ruth

[Ruth at C2SDK]

So, an update. I've gone through the steps given by Ryan and while I can see the server and it goes through Clonezilla Live just fine until it gets towards the end. Then it gives a red line with 'no input device'. I'm assuming it's looking for a partition or something, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I'm pasting the entire message below to see if someone can tell me what I need to do. Thanks everyone. Ruth (C2SDK)

Clonezilla mode is device-image
ocsroot device is samba_server
Network is already configured! Available IP address on this machine: 192.168.1.125
Preparing the mount point /home/partimag...
Mounting remote directory on Samba server as /home/partimag...
Samba server is: 192.168.1.23
Domain in 192.168.1.23 is: 
Account in 192.168.1.23 is: administrator
The path in samba server is: /images
Mounting samba server by:
mount -t cifs -o user="administrator" "//192.168.1.23/images" /home/partimag
Password: 
The file system disk space usage
*****************************************************.
df: `/filesystem.squashfs': No such file or directory
Filesystem             Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
rootfs                 497M  9.6M  487M   2% /
sysfs                     0     0     0    - /sys
proc                      0     0     0    - /proc
udev                   490M     0  490M   0% /dev
devpts                    0     0     0    - /dev/pts
tmpfs                  100M  304K   99M   1% /run
/dev/sr0               381M  381M     0 100% /live/image
tmpfs                  497M  9.6M  487M   2% /live/cow
aufs                   497M  9.6M  487M   2% /
tmpfs                  497M     0  497M   0% /live
tmpfs                  5.0M     0  5.0M   0% /run/lock
tmpfs                  199M  8.0K  199M   1% /tmp
proc                      0     0     0    - /proc
sysfs                     0     0     0    - /sys
tmpfs                  199M  4.0K  199M   1% /run/shm
rpc_pipefs                0     0     0    - /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs
fusectl                   0     0     0    - /sys/fs/fuse/connections
//192.168.1.23/images  410G  306G  105G  75% /home/partimag
*****************************************************.
Press "Enter" to continue......
done!
Setting the TERM as xterm
Choose the mode for ocs-sr
*****************************************************.
Clonezilla image dir: /home/partimag
*****************************************************.
Shutting down the Logical Volume Manager
  No volume groups found
  No volume groups found
Finished Shutting down the Logical Volume Manager
Excluding busy partition or disk...
Selected device [sda] found!
The selected devices: sda
*****************************************************.
PS. Next time you can run this command directly:
/opt/drbl/sbin/ocs-sr -q2 -c -j2 -z1p -i 2000 -p true savedisk 2012-06-27-10-img sda
This command is also saved as this file name for later use if necessary: /tmp/ocs-2012-06-27-10-img-2012-06-27-10-09
Press "Enter" to continue... 
Activating the partition info in /proc... done!
Selected device [sda] found!
The selected devices: sda
Searching for data partition(s)...
Excluding busy partition or disk...
Unmouted partitions (including extended or swap): 
Collecting info. done!
Searching for swap partition(s)...
Excluding busy partition or disk...
Unmouted partitions (including extended or swap): 
Collecting info. done!
The data partition to be saved:  
The swap partition to be saved:  
Activating the partition info in /proc... done!
No input device!
Press "Enter" to continue......

> refurbishers+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.

[Ryan McDowell]

Hello

From what I can see from your output. There isn't a partition table on
the disk you are trying to save. Have you already installed Windows on
the machine you are running Clonezilla on? If your output is correct
that is the only conclusion I can make. Could you give me more info on
the steps you took before getting to this point... What machine is
this on, what OS you installed on it, how you prepared that OS before
boot Clonezilla to create an image, etc....

Ryan Mc.

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[racornett921]

Thanks. I'm going to start over and work on it this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes. Ruth

[Ruth at C2SDK]

Here I go again.

I started from scratch. I reinstalled Windows 7, added my programs, ran all updates, cleaned files. Now, I have my completed Windows 7 drive, I rebooted to Clonezilla Live and ran it to clone the primary drive to a USB external drive. It saw both drives, but still got the same 'no input device' at the end the process. As soon as I press Enter at that point it shuts down clonezilla. I can reboot right back into Windows 7 so I know my drive is OK.

I don't know what to do at this point. I got it to work a few weeks ago, but now I can't get it to work. I'm using a 40GB primary drive. I'm using the same version of Clonezilla I used before, but obviously, something is different. If anyone can suggest something, I'm all ears. The only thing I see different is that last time I was using an HP system and now I'm using Dell. That should not make a difference.

Ryan, do you have other suggestions?

Thanks for all the help.
Ruth

On Wednesday, June 27, 2012 10:35:29 PM UTC-7, rizzim...@gmail.com wrote:

Hello

[Ruth at C2SDK]

So, the issue was all mine! I was using the 64 bit version of Clonezilla. DUH!  I decided to check the data on the CD to make sure I was using one of the latest versions and found out it was for 64 bit and not the 486 version. Now, that I have the correct version on a CD, it's working like a charm. Thanks everyone for your input. Ruth