EMCO MSI Package Builder vs. Symantec Ghost Solution Suite

For large, complex software deployments that have a number of install scenarios and executables that interact with one another, EMCO MSI Builder is well-suited. It is able to track software installs, registry changes, file additions, and deletions, modifying shortcuts and anything else that would be needed to prepare big deployment projects for large organizations.

Incentivized

Symantec Ghost Solution Suite is well suited to standard images of company approved software and standard configurations for all users. When every user has the same computer configuration, it is easily managed with a standard image across the board. It is less effective if you need to have multiple configurations for different groups. It becomes cumbersome to manage all the various images. When you add to the complexity by having to address the different drivers for the different hardware model computers, this only adds to the overall number of images you will have to manage, create and keep updated. I find Ghost most helpful with standard hardware model computers and one or two images company wide.

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• Capture Customizations to settings/registry.
• Track File movement and additions during install for specific uses.
• Capture file and system level changes for inclusion in deployment.

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• Pushing out scripts and jobs to computers
• Remote imaging and pushing out Windows OS Images
• Helping to track who pushed out what jobs

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• Work on clearly defining functions on reboot.

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• Initial install could be easier. Had to call support to assist.
• Joining domains had a few kinks that had to be figured out.

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Support has always been quick to respond with additional information and clarification

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Provides advanced functionality for the enterprise level software deployment analyst over and above the basic tools that Microsoft included with the original APP-v sequencing tool, allowing the analyst greater control over what is captured and how it is captured. This makes the impact of needing to change the deployment package easier to maintain and update

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The Symantec Ghost Solutions Suite learning curve isn't that steep.

• It allows faster turnaround time for complex deployment projects.
• Easy to update existing deployment packages with changes.
• We must maintain the pristine virtual machine for usage.

Incentivized

• A positive impact of Ghost would be time. To deploy computers form scratch is very time consuming and labor intensive for the IT Department. Ghost clearly saves the time of the IT departments staff to quickly get a new computer out to user so they can spend their time on addressing other issues and being more productive.
• Time is money. If the IT department is spending hours preparing computers and employees are out of a computer for an extended period of time waiting for one to be loaded, this is money lost to the company in paying employees to sit around and wait for a computer to be configured.

Incentivized