Why do I use fog? Well, for me, it started with me trying to learn more about linux way back in 2007-ish. I saw a posting on howtoforge.org and decided, why not. https://www.howtoforge.com/installing-fog-computer-imaging-solution-on-fedora8 (this was the posting although it was much different looking way back then.)
I had been playing with Linux (itself) for many years earlier, but found a need for FOG for where I worked. I was in the Army back then. When I first got to my duty station, the team was imaging computers using a CD which contained an image created by GHOST. I had learned about PXE in my own training and decided to try building a PXE Server to image more systems at the same time as in one months time (before I arrived) the number of systems imaged was about 100 out of an estimated 900 that had to be completed. After building the PXE server and setting up a GHOST multicast session we completed about 300 in one day.
Because of that, I kept forward on PXE booting and the sort of technologies that used it. That’s when I decided to install fog. It was not for the military as we had already had an established system for imaging at that point (through working with our post networking offices). I installed just for my own playing and testing and understanding.
I didn’t know of other items that ran similarly. I loved the fact that FOG used PXE booting, did not require a CD to host the original image, and was completely web managed. I kept my personal systems updated as things came out and did a lot of reading over the years. I knew of other “similar” software’s and decided none of them were as “cool” as FOG was. So I just kept with fog.
Where I work currently, I believe the need was because the items they had were very pricy and people were left to “make” their own images. When I started working here, I noticed the shift of technology moving from MBR to EFI based booting (BIOS vs. EFI if you will), and I new 0.33b was being worked on. However it was completely “stuck” if you will. I slowly decided to work on it, and it’s become what you see now (particularly in trunk).
What is FOG? FOG kind of models itself (now) to what Clonezilla does (albeit with a lot more – I think – improvements). That’s as far as FOG and Clonezilla compare, they use the same type of software to capture the image (now). With enough knowledge and understanding, Clonezilla could easily do what FOG does in whole, but it’s main purpose is to be a disk cloning tool. FOG is primarily designed to be a disk cloning or imaging tool. What does this mean? Clonezilla is great at getting and applying a disk to an equivalent disk (size in specifics) where FOG is designed for imaging in either scenario.
What is Imaging/Cloning? What I consider the difference between imaging vs. cloning is cloning mean’s a one for one copy. The image will be copied from one drive and must (Maybe should is more appropriate?) be placed on an equivalent drive or larger. I consider imaging meaning it captures the software layers of the device, and replaces it similar to cloning, but they need not be placed on the same drive. FOG enables users to make a choice on how they want the data stored and/or replaced. Most IT personnel will likely put imaging or cloning in the same category.
Why FOG? Well I enjoy it. I get to help MANY people around the world and see my own experience and knowledge grow as I find/test/see new technologies. I love the coding as it helps me maintain focus rather than dwelling on anxiety that I experience normally. I love seeing people see what FOG has become.
Why Clonezilla? Can be used for imaging anything so long as the restoration is occurring on matched or larger medium. I personally find Clonezilla cumbersome to initiate, but it does work very well and can be used without requiring network at all. It’s a great software that works well for “disk to disk” clones and scales fairly well if all systems in an organization is the same.
Why MDT/WDS? These paired (from what I hear) are awesome together in that you can do as @george1421 stated about making images from an unattended model with ease as well as capturing and applying that image to many systems. These are also free, but there are limitations.
As with all software, there’s going to be pro’s and con’s. I’m not trying to dish those things out at all.
Of course I’m going to be biased (now) to FOG as it’s more or less been my baby for the last 3 years. What a person uses is totally up to them. You’re going to get biased answers no matter what forum you go to. Especially if you ask on the relative software forum pages. Asking a community like Spiceworks may give less biased information (or maybe multiple biased points of view).
