Overview
This lecture covers disk cloning tools and techniques for imaging computers, discussing both software options and hardware considerations for efficient operating system deployment.
Disk Cloning Tools and Their Uses
- Disk cloning tools create full copies of a disk for backup or new machine setup.
- Disk cloning allows copying operating system, settings, and folders, unlike basic installation media.
- Clonezilla is an open-source disk cloning software for single or multiple machines.
- Semantic Ghost is a popular commercial disk imaging tool.
Disk Cloning Methods
- Disk-to-disk cloning involves connecting an external hard drive to the source machine.
- External hard drive docks can be used to connect HDDs or SSDs for cloning.
- The Linux command line tool "DD" can create a copy of a drive as an image file.
- Before using DD, make sure the target drive is unmounted.
- DD copies all contents from the source drive to an image file, replicating the original drive's data.
Network-Based Imaging and Automation
- Network-initiated deployments allow downloading and installing operating systems without physical media.
- Custom network imaging requires automation scripts, not covered in this course but mentioned in Course 5 on IT Automation.
Hardware Standardization Considerations
- Standardizing hardware across company devices simplifies operating system deployments.
- Different hardware requires different drivers, complicating management and deployment processes.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Disk cloning — Creating an exact copy of a computer’s hard drive.
- Clonezilla — Open-source disk cloning and imaging software.
- Semantic Ghost — Commercial disk imaging and deployment tool.
- DD — A Linux command line utility for copying and converting files, often used for disk cloning.
- Network-initiated deployment — Installing operating systems over a network instead of using physical media.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read the supplemental material on disk cloning software after the video.