Avis clients sur SmartDeploy

ease of use
speed of imaging
ability to multitask

license management is a bit confusing, could be clearer

With budget cuts, we've had to stop doing massive system refreshes and are now purchasing smaller amounts of systems as funds become available. We are a Dell house, but due to the new purchasing strategy we are getting a more diverse set of Dell models. Fortunately, for us, SmartDeploy has allowed us to tackle that diversity by use a single common image for about 12 different models (which include desktops/laptops and tablets). We only have 1 image to maintain, instead of 12, and if we get a 13th model, then we simply download the PPK (package of specific drivers) from SmartDeploy, add that to our image package and off we go. That is what we like most about this product, but there are a plethora of other items that has made SmartDeploy a huge success. We chose SmartDeploy about 4 years ago, after researching and comparing it in live tests with Symantec and Acronis. We had it up and running in production in about a day. Thanks to a very logical image creation and deployment process, we created a VM using VM Workstation, downloaded the necessary PPK's (driver packages) for the specific machines we had a need to image, and then created a USB stick which contained all necessary image components. Within 30 minutes, we had imaged 3 different models and realized our imaging problems from before were over. What a beautiful thing.

Would like to be able to snap an image of an existing system and save for re-deployment. To my knowledge, that option has not been made available....yet.

The product is easy to use and the ability to automatically connect to a WiFi network on deployment is a great feature

Sometimes devices do not get joined to the network for whatever reason. Also, you cannot have computers named in sequence upon deployment, instead they are automatically given random numbers. Unlike Acronis, which I could input computer names to be Laptop-Department{15} and it would named the computers Laptop-Department15, Laptop-Department16, Laptop-Department17, etc. SmartDeploy randomizes the number sequence. So, when you input the naming convention as Laptop-DepartmentXX, it names the device Laptop-Department84, Laptop-Department25, Laptop-Department40, etc. There is no sequence or logic to the number section. Additionally, you still have to do some prep work by making some changes in the Bios on newer machines in order to get the software to image to it. Also, when you select to log into an account after imaging, it seems that it creates a local account for the profile instead of using the domain account and then it does not join to the domain.

Being able to generate a single VM image and distribute it to hundreds of different computers (manufacturers and models) is revolutionary. Other software I've used requires you to have an image created on each type of physical hardware. This means you have to manage multiple images and have a spare of each type of computer just to maintain the system.

There are several deployment methods (USB drives, local network, cloud-based) that all work really well. When using the USB drive method, there isn't an easy way to update the boot software (e.g. WinPE) on the device or distribute new USB media. Shipping the USB drives works but is slow and expensive. Having the coworker at the remote office create a new USB drive is difficult because you have to walk them through installing the enterprise software which I don't necessarily want them to have access to. However, this is not undermining the huge benefits we see from using SmartDeploy.

Our deployment system is consistent now
Customer service is responsive when there are issues

We are a static IP shop and SmartDeploy is ideal for DHCP so we are not as able to use the unattended features but we have 350 PCs across our entire environment so it's not a deal-breaker at all
Customer Service is in Portland and we're in Chicago - 2 hour delay if I have issues in the AM

This package is flexible. It is easy to deploy from Cloud storage, network, and USB drive. The platform packs save me the time of finding and preparing drivers for each model. Price is reasonable, too!

When updating the platform packs, any task customization has to be reinserted since it overwrites the entire package.

SmartDeploy is a great time-saver for us as we deploy many new machines company-wide. While its pre-installation environment is helpful, it can also be associated with WDS to make for even quicker computer imaging. Images can be captured in multiple ways and this flexibility is what makes the program appealing.

Setup can take a bit, but it's smooth sailing from there.

The driver packages aid a ton in getting this out. As long as you're using hardware that's common like Dell, HP, Lenovo they will have a package for you. Shockingly, they even have packages for servers as well. This is the part that can be frustrating when trying to do this by hand with WDS / MDT because you can come across hardware that has the same model number but have different chipsets or different audio controller. This takes the guess work out of all of that.

I wish deployment of custom apps and packages were better. Don't get me wrong you can do it, however you still need to find the slient switches your self and hope that the devs added something in for that. Failing that perhaps integration with autoIT scripts or a macro function of some kind to aid in deployment of apps that don't have this feature.

SmartDeploy does it all, they keep the drivers up-to-date and even BIOS upgrades are automated in the process! So easy to use!

I can't think of a single thing...

Ease of use, no complicated MS whitepapers that dont tell you what you need to do to get a image out the door quickly. These guys got it going on. It just works, and OH the driver management!!!!! What a life saver, that ALONE is worth every single penny, but now you can push apps and image over Wifi or the internet? Good by SCCM and MDT forever!

the cost maybe?? its hard to find anything wrong with it really.

Ease of capturing VMs and deploying images
Platform packs
user interface
image management and connectivity to the images after deployment

lack of documentation regarding differencing images
lack of documentation/training for folks newer to image creation/SmartDeploy software
Have had issues installing the SmartDeploy application on secondary machines in the past

The best features are the ability to quickly setup all components necessary for imaging your systems easily.

So far have had excellent success with the software and have only had 1 incident in which support did not fully resolve my issue.

Customer Service is super helpful. The software itself is excellently integrated to allow you to install and deploy as you would like to any PC you would like.

Not really about the software, but, that I had not found this software sooner.

This product has simplified our imaging process by allowing us to move away from Ghost.

Keeping track of licensing is a little difficult at this point, however the team is listening and responded promptly to my concerns and is working on ways to simplify.

It took only am hour or so to learn how to use the software. Within a day of playing around you can easily become an expert. Smart deploy is constantly getting better and better they are always adding new features to help bridge the gap between it and SCCM. As far as imaging goes it has the same features as SCCM. However it lacks the system management aspect that SCCM offers. But for not having to learn anything, and a simple install process no servers to deal with this is much better

I used to work in a SCCM environment and those images were 100% complete. The PCs would join the domain via WIFI. Smart deploy has trouble with WIFI domain join, but works great if the PC is plugged into an Ethernet connection. Via SCCM the network admin was able to get all software and customization to happen over the SCCM image. With smart deploy some software cant be part of the image such as most anti-virus software, it has to be a post image task.

SmartDeploy has made deploying windows to dis-similar hardware so much easier. The added features continue to improve this product.

I do not see any cons to this deployment solution.

SmartDeploy is a must have. SmartDeploy has made imaging devices and upgrade a whole lot easier.

I have had no issues with using SmartDeploy.

Smartdeploy simplifies our deployments by allowing our imaging to be hardware agnostic. This is a game changer for us.

Per device pricing model, but this is understandable given our use-case.

Its just so easy and powerful, such a joy to use.

Nope. Nothing I can think of not at least right now, but im sure they will come up with something cool soon! Always do.

The console is easy and intuitive to use. Everything you need in one compact interface. The customer support is VERY responsive!

I've had several issues of errors stopping my console from running. It's hindered the performance of SmartDeploy off and on for the last year. To be fair, these issues may be specific to me and my environment but none-the-less it needs to be noted. (Again, the customer service is very helpful and responsive.)

-Cloud Imaging through multiple providers like Google Drive and Box.com
-Built in MDM for managing devices to view system info and remotely install applications
-Amazing answer file support
-Multiple ways of deploying images to machines, you can use local storage like an external hard drive, pxe boot or use a usb to boot into the SmartDeploy environment.
-Driver packs make deployment a breeze

I would highly recommend SmartDeploy to anyone looking to image and maintain a large amount of windows PC's

Wish it didn't use Microsoft Silverlight

Easy to use and configure. Love to the platform pack library. Cuts our imaging time down to a minimum

My only con is that it can be quite pricey. Even for a non profit pricing. I wish there was a way to buy the software out right and pay support.

Very easy to use and learn. The platform packs makes it very easy to obtain/update drivers.

Only cons are that it was very basic to start but they are adding more and more features everyday.

Easy to use the software and great features!

the application deployment could use some better explanation to describe how build a custom package. Would be nice if we could build a 2nd break out for management instead of drilling down from one tree view.

It just works! One base image works with all different models of computers. Downloading the driver packs is very easy as is creating deployment media.

The ability to gather an image from a legacy machine to store for later need