Performing offline imaging

Offline imaging means that the master system is stopped and the master machine boots into the Acronis environment or into Windows Preinstallation Environment.

To perform offline imaging

1. Install Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Management Console.
2. Do one of the following:
   • Create a bootable media that contains Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Master Image Creator.

   OR

   • Install Acronis PXE Server, connect the console to the PXE server, and upload Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Master Image Creator. Make sure that network booting is enabled on the master machine.

     Tip: While creating the bootable media or uploading Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Master Image Creator to the PXE server, you can configure the image creator to start automatically after a time-out.

3. Configure the master system.
4. Depending on your choice in step 2, boot the master machine into Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Master Image Creator from the bootable media or from the PXE server.

   The boot menu appears on the master machine.

   

   The boot menu on the master machine

5. In the boot menu, click Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Master Image Creator.
6. The master image creator establishes a network connection to be able to save the image in a network folder. A dialog box appears asking whether you want to configure the network connection that will be used by the image creator.

   By default, Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Master Image Creator uses DHCP auto configuration. Ignore the prompt (click Cancel) if there is a DHCP server on the network or the image has to be placed on a local hard disk or a removable media.

   

   Prompt for configuring the master image creator

   The master image creator can be preconfigured to apply the default network settings automatically after a time-out.

   The manual configuration is needed if automatic configuration is not possible (no DHCP server on the network) or does not succeed. To configure the network connections manually, click OK in the prompt window.

   

   Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Master Image Creator configuration: network settings

   Set the preferable values and click OK.

7. When Acronis Snap Deploy 4 Master Image Creator starts, it displays the Master Image Creator welcome window.

   

   Master Image Creator Wizard: welcome window

8. In this window, click Next, and then follow the steps of the Master Image Creator wizard.