I'm a desktop systems administrator at a higher education institution, and we're still using golden master imaging because it works well for us. Our setup with Broadcom's Ghost Solution Suite allows us to PXE boot and image machines quickly, getting laptops ready for users in about 15 minutes. Since we lease our devices, one-third of our fleet gets replaced each year, and I can image more than 30 laptops in under an hour using multicast. I have some experience with Autopilot, which I use for Macs since golden master imaging isn't an option there, but I don't see clear benefits to transitioning to Autopilot for our PC deployments. Can anyone explain why I should consider moving away from golden images towards something like Autopilot?
4 Answers
It sounds like you're in a good spot with golden imaging, especially since it allows you to deploy large numbers of laptops quickly. Autopilot is great for remote setups where devices need to be shipped directly to users, but in your case, if everything is on-site, I don't see why you would need to switch right now. Just keep doing what's working for you!
Autopilot can streamline processes, but if you're managing a smaller, more homogenous fleet like yours, golden imaging is still effective. You save time by quickly deploying and imaging each device, which might not be the case with Autopilot if you have many different setups to manage.
True, Autopilot can handle updates seamlessly, but it’s not as quick for bulk deployments compared to your current method.
In bigger environments where lots of diverse hardware is in play, Autopilot makes updates easier and saves time over maintaining a ton of images. But with your current volumes and straightforward needs, there's not a strong argument for switching right now.
Exactly! If you're handling everything well and it meets your requirements, keep using what works.
I understand your concerns. Golden images are straightforward until you need to maintain multiple images for different device models. Autopilot reduces the risk of image divergence and could help with updates, but if your needs are simple and consistent, it's not urgent to switch.
Absolutely! If managing updates isn’t a hassle and your setup works efficiently, you might just be fine sticking with golden imaging.
Exactly! It seems like you're already managing a pretty efficient process. Autopilot really shines in environments where devices need to be configured remotely without IT's physical presence, which doesn't sound like your situation.