31.7 Image File Operations

You can do the following with an image file:

31.7.1 Compressing an Image File

You can compress an uncompressed image (including images created by previous versions of ZENworks) by 40 to 60 percent of the original file size.

You can compress an image in two ways:

Compressing an Opened Image File

Use this dialog box to set compression options so that it takes less time to restore the image file or less space to store the file on your Imaging server.

IMPORTANT:If you have used Delete to hide files in the image, they are removed from the image during compression.

To compress the image file:

  1. Click File > Open.

  2. Browse for and select the image file.

    Large image files might take a few moments to open.

  3. Click File > Compress Image.

  4. Fill in the fields:

    Image File to Compress: Specifies the name of the existing imaging file to compress.

    Save Compressed Image As: Click the browse button next to this field to specify the location and filename under which to save the image.

    Compression Level: Specify an image-compression level:

    • Compress for Speed: Takes the least amount of time to compress but creates the largest compressed image file.

    • Balanced Compression: Represents a compromise between compression time and image file size. This option is used by default when an image is created.

    • Compress for Size: Creates the smallest image file but takes longer to compress.

  5. Click Compress to compress the image file, using the settings you specified.

Compressing an Unopened Image File

Use this dialog box to set compression options to quickly compress an image file without waiting for the file to fully load into Image Explorer.

To quickly compress an image file:

  1. Click Tools > QuickCompress.

  2. Fill in the fields:

    Image File to Compress: Specify or browse to an existing imaging file to compress.

    Save Compressed Image As: Specify the location and filename under which to save the image, or click the browse button next to this field to locate and select it.

    Compression Level: Specify an image-compression level:

    • Compress for Speed: Takes the least amount of time to compress but creates the largest compressed image file.

    • Balanced Compression: Represents a compromise between compression time and image file size. This option is used by default when an image is created.

    • Compress for Size: Creates the smallest image file but takes longer to compress.

  3. Click Compress to compress the image file using the settings you specified.

31.7.2 Splitting an Image

You can split an image file into separate files so that you can span the entire image across several CDs or DVDs.

When you split a device image and span it across several CDs or DVDs, you are essentially creating a base image on the first CD or DVD. The remaining CDs or DVDs are add-on images.

Because images are split by placing individual files into different images, an image cannot be split if it contains any single file that is larger than the specified maximum file size.

To restore a device image that has been spanned across several CDs or DVDs you should restore the first CD or DVD before restoring the remaining CDs or DVDs containing the add-on images. For more information, see Manually Putting an Image on a Device.

Restoring split Images is done using bundles, such as restoring a base plus add-ons. For more information, see Creating an Add-On Image.

To split an image:

  1. Click Tools > Split Image.

  2. Fill in the fields:

    Image File to Split: Enter or browse to an existing base image file to split.

    Directory to Store Split Images: Specify the location and filename under which to save the split-image files, or click the browse button next to this field to locate and select it.

    The split-image files are named automatically. For example, if you enter image.zmg in the Image File to Split field, the first split-image file is named image_base.zmg, the second file is named image_a1.zmg, the third file is named image_a2.zmg, and so forth. The image_base.zmg file contains files that allow the device to boot to the operating system. The add-on images (image_a1.zmg, image_a2.zmg, etc.) contain additional files.

    Maximum Split File Size _ MB: Specify the maximum size of each split-image file. Depending on the size of the original image and the number you enter in this field, ZENworks creates as many files as necessary to split the entire image into separate split-image files.

  3. To split the image file into as many files as necessary, using the settings you specified, click Split.

31.7.3 Hiding and Removing Content in the Image File

You can hide a directory or file from being used when the image is applied to a device. You can also permanently remove hidden or excluded directories and files from an image file.

Hiding Directories or Files in the Image

You can hide directories or files so that they are not used when the image is applied to a device. This enables you save their existence so that you can later unhide them to be applied to the imaged device.

  1. Click File > Open.

  2. Browse for and select the image file.

    Large image files might take a few moments to open.

  3. Select the directories and files to be hidden.

    IMPORTANT:When editing a base image, do not hide BPB files or the device won’t be able to boot the new operating system after receiving the image.

  4. Click Image > Delete.

    You can also right-click the selected directories and files, then select Delete.

    Deleting a file in the Image Explorer merely marks it for deletion; it can still be retrieved. A file marked as deleted is not removed from the image until the image is purged; files and folders marked as deleted are not restored during imaging.

Unhiding Directories or Files in the Image

You can unhide directories or files so that they are available when the image is applied to a device.

  1. Click File > Open.

  2. Browse for and select the image file.

    Large image files might take a few moments to open.

  3. Select the directories and files that were previously hidden that you want to unhide.

  4. Click Image > Undelete.

    You can also right-click the selected directories and files, then select Undelete.

    This makes them available in the image when it is applied to a device.

Removing Hidden Directories and Files from the Image File

To permanently remove hidden directories and files from the open image in order to create a different version of the image file:

  1. Click File > Open.

  2. Browse for and select the image file.

    Large image files might take a few moments to open.

  3. Click File > Purge Files.

  4. Browse to the image filename or specify a new image filename, then click OK.

    You can save over the original image file to make this modification, or create another version of the image with the hidden directories and files removed.

31.7.4 Configuring File Sets

To configure a file set:

  1. Click File > Open.

  2. Browse for and select the image file.

    Large image files might take a few moments to open.

  3. Select the directories and files in the image that you want excluded from the image.

    Ways that you can select content:

    • Click a single file in the right pane.

    • Use the Shift and Ctrl keys to select multiple files in the right pane.

    • Individually select partitions and directories in the left pane. Any partition or directory that you select includes everything under it.

    • Select a partition or directory in the left pane, then click Edit > Select All to select all files listed in the right pane. Subdirectories are not included.

  4. Do one of the following to exclude the selected files and directories from the image:

    • Click Edit > File Sets, then select one of the options from Exclude from Set 1 through Exclude from Set 10.

      You can also right-click your selection to access the File Sets menu options.

    • Click Edit > File Sets > Edit to open the File Sets dialog box, do the following as applicable, then click OK to exit the dialog box:

      • Exclude Specific Items: To exclude the selected directories and files from specific file set numbers, click the check box for each set number.

        This causes all selected directories and files to be excluded from the image for any Image bundle assigned to the specified file set numbers.

      • Exclude All Items: To exclude the selected directories and files from all file sets of this image, click Exclude All.

        This causes all selected directories and files to be excluded from the image for any Image bundle assigned to any file set number.

      • Include All Items: To clear all of the check boxes, click Exclude None.

        This allows all selected directories and files to be included in the image.

      You can also right-click your selection to access the File Sets menu options.

31.7.5 Extracting Content as Files

To extract a file or directory from the open image and copy it to a directory:

  1. Click File > Open.

  2. Browse for and select the image file.

    Large image files might take a few moments to open.

  3. Click File > Save.

    If any changes have been made, this must be done before you can extract the information.

  4. Click File > Extract > As Files.

  5. Browse to and select a directory for the files, then click OK.

31.7.6 Extracting Content as an Add-on Image

To extract a file or directory from the open image as an add-on image:

  1. Click File > Open.

  2. Browse for and select the image file.

    Large image files might take a few moments to open.

  3. Click File > Save.

    If any changes have been made, this must be done before you can extract the information.

  4. Click File > Extract > As Add-on Image.

  5. Specify the name and location of the new add-on image, then click OK.

31.7.7 Creating an Add-on Image

You can create an add-on image from existing directories and files on your system and add partitions to the new add-on image.

  1. Click File > New.

  2. To add a partition, click the root of the image, click Image, then click Create Partition.

    You cannot add a partition to an existing image.

  3. Do any of the following to add content:

    • Browse to the directories and files you want the add-on image to contain, then drag or copy the directories and files into the right pane from your file browser.

    • Click Image > Add Files and select the files to be added.

    • Click Image > Add Directory and select the directories to be added.

    • Click the Add Directory icon and select the directories to be added.

    • Click the Add File icon and select the files to be added.

  4. Click File > Save As, then specify the filename of the add-on image, including the .zmg filename extension.