Computer Imaging

When computers need to be deployed, the challenge is how to get standard applications and end user configurations on them in the least amount of time while also maintaining consistency and accuracy between them.

Imaging in Large Environments

• There are a variety of imaging utilities that solve this problem by allowing system administrators to create separate images for each of their different end user configurations. This approach can save a great deal of time when deploying computers, however, much of the savings is diminished when factoring in the administrator's time to create the different images. Imaging computers and then having to apply any number of patches that were released since the image was created is an invitation to building-in errors and mismatches between the installed base and the new computers.

Imaging Evolved

• The integration of all components within the Casper Suite allows for a unique and powerful solution that is unparalleled. Rather than bundling in an imaging utility, the Casper Suite uses packages created in Composer, assembles them into configurations via Casper Admin and then deploys them using Casper. The utilization of single OS or Application Packages with multiple configurations means that there are identical components that make up the end user configuration.

Zero Post-Fix Time

• In addition to giving you the flexibility to install multiple configurations from your desktop, Casper gives you the options to set and save end user specific information. The elimination of this "after-imaging-time" makes using Casper the most efficient way to get a new image on end users' computers. The following attributes can be set and memorized for each computer that may be different on your network:
• User and administrator accounts
• Active Directory binding
• Network configuration
• Open firmware password
• Default and secondary printers
• ARD custom fields
• Computer name
• The integration of these activities reduces engineering time by allowing you or your administrators to prepare machines from their desktops in less than 15 minutes per machine.