The following sections cover procedures to prepare devices for imaging. The procedures that are applicable to you depend on your imaging deployment strategy. For more information, see Section 2.4.2, Deploying Preboot Services in a Network Environment.
If you are using Preboot Services (PXE) as your imaging method, you need to enable PXE on the device. For more information, see Section 2.3.1, Using Preboot Services (PXE).
If you are using a ZENworks partition as your imaging method, you need to create the partition on the device. For more information, see Creating a ZENworks Partition.
The following sections contain additional information:
This section gives the requirements for using a network-connected device.
It is possible (but usually not as convenient) to image a device without connecting to the network. Such operations can’t be fully automated.
The following are the requirements for the device:
Table 2-12 Device Requirements
|
Device Must Have |
Because |
|---|---|
|
A supported Ethernet card |
The device must connect with the Imaging Server to store or retrieve the images. This connection is made when the device is under the control of the ZENworks Imaging Engine. Therefore, make sure the device has a supported Ethernet card. For more information, see Section H.0, Supported Ethernet Cards. |
|
Free disk space for a ZENworks partition (optional) |
Unless you are using PXE, unattended operations require a ZENworks partition to be installed on the device hard disk, so that the ZENworks Imaging Engine can gain control when booting. The default partition size is 150 MB, and the minimum partition size is 50 MB. This partition is not required if you are performing manual imaging operations using bootable CDs, DVDs, or diskettes. Partition size can be in megabytes of disk space. |
|
Standard hardware architecture |
NEC PC98 architecture is not supported. |
|
PXE enabled |
If you are using Preboot Services, PXE must be enabled in the BIOS. For more information, see Section 2.3.1, Using Preboot Services (PXE). |
|
Supported imaging partition type |
The supported partition types for imaging are the NTFS, FAT32, ReiserFS, Ext2, and Ext3 file systems. |
NOTE:ZENworks imaging does not support devices running boot managers, such as System Commander. Boot managers create their own information in the MBR and overwrite the ZENworks boot system, which prevents the device from communicating with the Imaging Server. If you are using boot managers in your environment, you should disable or remove them before performing imaging operations.
Use one of the following methods to enable a device for auto-imaging operations:
You can set up a device to be automatically imaged from Imaging bundles by enabling PXE on the device.
For more information, see Section 2.7.1, Enabling PXE on a PXE-Capable Device.
If you cannot enable PXE on the device, you can use a partition to perform unattended imaging operations.
For more information, see Creating a ZENworks Partition.
If you cannot use the PXE or ZENworks partition methods to automate imaging of your devices, you can manually image a device using an imaging CD or DVD.
For information, see Section 3.1.3, Setting Up Disconnected Imaging Operations.