Symantec Spruces Up Ghost Imaging Solution

imaging

Version 8.0 adds innovative features such as the ability to store drive images locally on an existing drive partition, using what Symantec refers to as a client staging area. That capability allows administrators to significantly reduce network traffic while still preserving drive images in a manageable fashion. What's more, administrators are now able to manage the imaging process for remote users over limited bandwidth connections.

Other improvements include inventory functionality, multicast file transfers, Microsoft Pre-installation Environment support and enhanced external media support. Those enhancements help make the latest Ghost a good fit for many environments. Administrators can now build comprehensive software and hardware inventories and then use that information to script image deployments, enabling them to roll out a new operating system to only those client systems that meet minimum hardware requirements, for example.

Harried technicians will benefit from the enhanced support of removable media. Most external devices such as FireWire-based hard drives and USB-connected storage devices are directly supported by the Ghost environment.

Beyond those capabilities, Ghost Enterprise Edition version 8.0 has become a better fit for those supporting the disaster-recovery process. The product's improved management console and enhanced portability of image files make it a natural selection for those looking to bolster a

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disaster-recovery offering.

The product still comes up short in the ability to create images while running Windows XP or 2000, however, as users have to reboot into a special DOS mode to create images, which can lead to lost productivity and added complexity.

For those looking at imaging as a solution for multiple problems ranging from backup to disaster recovery to operating system rollouts, Ghost Enterprise Edition version 8.0 proves to be the best choice on the market.

PRODUCT SNAPSHOT
>GHOST ENTERPRISE EDITION 8.0
PRICE: $36.20 per license for 10 to 24 licenses; $2110 for 250 to 499 licenses
DISTRIBUTORSINTEGRATORS: Arrow Electronics' MOCA, Douglas Stewart, Ingram Micro, Navarre, Synnex, Tech Data
COMPANY: Symantec
Cupertino, Calif.
(408) 517-8000
www.symantec.com