How to Set Up FOG Server for Windows 10 Imaging and Deployment

This guide walks you through installing and configuring a FOG (Free Open-source Ghost) server to capture and deploy Windows 10 images across networked machines.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

  1. Windows Server 2019 with the DHCP Server role enabled.
  2. Ubuntu Server (20.04 LTS or later) for hosting FOG.
  3. Two Windows 10 Client Machines:
    • Reference Machine: To capture the base Windows 10 image.
    • Target Machine: To deploy the captured image.
  4. All devices must be on the same network.

Step 1: Install FOG on Ubuntu Server

1. Install Git

Open a terminal on your Ubuntu server and run:

sudo -i
apt update && apt install git -y

2. Clone the FOG Repository

Download the FOG Project files:

cd /root
git clone https://github.com/FOGProject/fogproject.git
cd FOGProject

3. Run the FOG Installer

Execute the installation script:

cd /root/fogproject/bin
./installfog.sh

  • Follow the prompts, selecting default options unless you need custom configurations.

  • Ensure the server’s IP address and DNS settings(1.1.1.1) are correctly configured during setup.

Step 2: Configure DHCP for PXE Booting

On your Windows Server 2019 DHCP Server:

  1. Open the DHCP management console.

  2. Right-click Scope Options and select Configure Options.

  3. Add these two options:

  • 066 Boot Server Host Name: Enter the IP address of your FOG server.

  • 067 Bootfile Name: Set to pxelinux.0.

This ensures client machines can locate the FOG server during PXE boot.

Step 3: Capture a Windows 10 Image

1. Register the Reference Machine

  1. Boot the reference Windows 10 machine and press the appropriate key (e.g., F12) to access the boot menu.
  2. Select PXE Boot to start the FOG menu.
  3. Choose Inventory to register the machine in FOG.

2. Create a New Image

  1. Log in to the FOG web interface (accessible via http://<fog-server-ip>/fog/).
  2. Navigate to Images -> Create New Image.
    • Name: Give the image a descriptive name (e.g., “Windows10-Pro”).
    • Operating System: Select Windows 10.
    • Image Type: Choose Multi Partition Image - All Disk to capture the entire drive.

3. Start the Capture Process

  1. Go to Hosts -> List All Hosts.
  2. Select the registered reference machine and click Capture.
  3. Reboot the reference machine. It will automatically boot into FOG and begin imaging.

Step 4: Deploy the Image to a Target Machine

1. Prepare the Target Machine

  1. Boot the target Windows 10 machine and select PXE Boot from the boot menu.
  2. In the FOG menu, select Deploy Image.

2. Authenticate and Deploy

  1. Enter your FOG fog and password when prompted.
  2. Select the Windows 10 image you created earlier.
  3. FOG will format the target machine’s disk and deploy the image.

3. Completion

  1. Once deployment finishes, the machine will reboot into the freshly imaged Windows 10 installation.
  2. You’re done! Repeat this process for additional machines.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • PXE Boot Fails: Double-check DHCP options 066 and 067 on the Windows Server.
  • Image Capture/Deploy Errors: Ensure the FOG server and client machines are on the same subnet.
  • FOG Web Interface Issues: Verify Apache/MySQL services are running on the Ubuntu server.

Why Use FOG?

  • Centralized Imaging: Manage OS deployments across multiple machines from one interface.
  • Open-Source: Free to use and highly customizable.
  • Multi-OS Support: Works with Windows, Linux, and macOS.

For advanced configurations, refer to the FOG Project Wiki.