What is Clonezilla? We wanted to answer this question because we come across this product in use more often than we would have thought. Clonezilla is a partition and disk imaging/cloning program similar to Symantec Ghost and it's free, (GNU GPL v2).
There are two flavors of Clonezilla, Live and SE. Clonezilla Live offers the ability to run the imaging program from bootable DVD or USB. Clonezilla SE adds the capability to boot from network and image using multicast (if a DRBL server is setup and accessible), similar to Microsoft WDS PXE services.
http://clonezilla.org/
How much imaging knowledge is required? As with any imaging technology, you should understand the basics of what you're attempting to do, including the underlying networking involved. An advanced knowledge of imaging is absolutely recommended.
How much Linux knowledge is required? Clonezilla is menu driven and on par with Symantec GhostCast with respect to ease of use. Given a reasonable grasp of imaging, Clonezilla's menu system is relatively simple and straightforward.
Clonezilla Menu Screen If you're unfamiliar with Linux and don't feel like learning it, you may want to reconsider the use of this imaging tool.
How about support if something goes awry? You cannot even purchase support from the developer as it is open source code. You'd better know your Linux and your Internet searching Kung fu had better be strong…
At least with Microsoft products like ImageX/DISM, you can buy support even if you don't have an existing agreement.
Is it useful in large, complex environments? Depending upon the complexities of your network, you could probably make it work, although you'd have the same issues that you'd have with GhostCast in that situation. You'd need to make certain that your DRBL server is accessible to your target machines and setup your network infrastructure to allow for multicasting (optional). It lacks the features of a bonafide imaging management solution, such as Microsoft SCCM, to manage operating system images, drivers, applications, etc.
In Summary, Clonezilla is a useful albeit rudimentary imaging tool that can save you money on your OS deployment solution provided that you have some in-house Linux knowledge and some mad Internet search skillz. It may not be advisable in larger, more complex environments unless all imaging tasks are performed in a segregated lab environment.
As relates to the Universal Imaging Utility product line, the UIU Standard product supports Clonezilla and is executed on the base image prior to image capture with Clonezilla. Upon deployment, the UIU Standard executes the remainder of its functions unimpeded.
The UIU 5 technology (post-deployment driver management) is not compatible with Clonezilla as it relies on the leveraging of Microsoft WADK technology, (specifically Windows PE) to perform its functions in an offline operating system. Clonezilla utilizes its own Linux-based analog of WinPE for which the Microsoft compatible code is obviously not viable. All your base are belong to Microsoft.
I hate to be the only negative voice on this one, but Clonezilla lost me as a fan. I'm all for open socrue, but no thanks.Mike, if you want painless and free, just use Macrium Reflect. (I'm not shilling for them, promise, it just works.) Easier than Norton Ghost because it works from within the OS to make the image. I transferred an OS from one laptop drive to another using a little USB dock, and also via an external USB drive. Flawless and fast.Macrium Reflect Free has never failed me, and it does a terrific job of resizing partitions. On the other hand, Clonezilla has failed often to understand a small partition expanding into a larger drive. I assume it can do that sort of operation, but I had to give up on it after trying every setting on the program to re-install a cloned image.I used Macrium on the same drive, and less than 2 hours later I was on the new drive, having had no problems expanding the partition (and easy instructions.)My other Clonezilla micro-bash is that it took forever compared to Macrium to create the initial image.