Systems Deployment / Imaging

Chromebook Recovery Utility is a Google-provided Chrome extension used to create recovery media for reinstalling ChromeOS on a Chromebook or related ChromeOS device. A technician runs the utility on a working computer, selects the affected model, and writes the appropriate recovery image to a USB drive or SD card. School technicians use the media to restore affected devices. Recovery media reinstalls the operating system; preserving local device work requires a separate step before recovery. Technicians connect the chosen image with the correct hardware model and the district’s subsequent enrollment and configuration process.

Clonezilla is free, open-source disk-imaging and cloning software used to copy partitions or entire drives for deployment, backup, migration, and bare-metal recovery. Clonezilla Live handles one machine at a time, while Clonezilla Server Edition works with DRBL and network services to deploy an image to multiple computers. District technicians can use it when preparing or restoring computer labs. The image represents a device or disk at a particular point in time. Technicians track its source and destination so cloning does not confuse equipment identity or overwrite needed local work.

FOG Project is a free, open-source network imaging and computer-management system. A district hosts FOG on a supported Linux server and uses PXE boot, Partclone, and a web console to capture and deploy disk images to Windows and Linux endpoints without visiting each device with removable media.

The deployed image determines the starting state of a computer. Technicians connect image versions, hardware groups, and deployment results with inventory and later device configuration work.

SmartDeploy is a Windows imaging, provisioning, and endpoint-management product owned by PDQ. District technology teams can use it to create a hardware-independent Windows image, combine it with model-specific driver packages, and deploy operating systems, applications, patches, scripts, and updates to computers on campus or at remote locations.

An image and driver package establish a machine’s starting configuration. IT staff coordinate deployment versions, device identity, and application readiness before equipment returns to student or employee use.