Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CloneDeploy VS FOG Project

Compare CloneDeploy VS FOG Project and see what are their differences

CloneDeploy logo CloneDeploy

OS Imaging & Deployment

FOG Project logo FOG Project

A free open-source network computer cloning and management solution
  • CloneDeploy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-15
Not present

CloneDeploy features and specs

  • Open Source
    CloneDeploy is open-source software, meaning it is free to use and has a community of developers who can contribute to its development and improvement.
  • Network Boot
    CloneDeploy supports network booting, allowing users to deploy images to multiple machines simultaneously without the need for physical boot media.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    It supports imaging for both Windows and macOS, providing flexibility for environments with diverse operating systems.
  • Customizable
    CloneDeploy offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to tailor deployment processes to their specific needs.
  • Web Interface
    The software includes a web interface that makes it easier to manage and control deployments, even for users who may not be command-line experts.

Possible disadvantages of CloneDeploy

  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup and configuration of CloneDeploy can be complex and might require a considerable amount of time and technical expertise.
  • Limited Support Community
    While CloneDeploy is open source, it has a smaller user and support community compared to larger enterprise solutions, which can be a limitation for receiving help.
  • Resource Intensive
    The process of deploying images, especially to multiple machines at once, can be resource-intensive and may require substantial network and server resources.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    CloneDeploy may lack some advanced features found in more mature or commercial deployment solutions, which could be a drawback for large enterprises.
  • Maintenance
    Being an open-source project, frequent updates and maintenance might be required, which could be a burden for users seeking a more hands-off solution.

FOG Project features and specs

  • Open Source
    FOG Project is open-source software, meaning it is free to use and has a community of developers contributing to its development, allowing for continual improvements and updates.
  • Network-based Imaging
    FOG Project allows for efficient network-based imaging, enabling users to deploy and manage operating system installations across multiple devices without needing physical media.
  • Cross-platform Support
    FOG Project supports a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Mac, making it versatile for diverse environments.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The software provides a web-based interface that is relatively easy to navigate, making it accessible even for users who may not be highly technical.
  • Customizable
    FOG Project can be tailored to meet specific needs by customizing deployment tasks and scripts, offering flexibility for different network environments.

Possible disadvantages of FOG Project

  • Complex Initial Setup
    Setting up FOG Project can be complex for beginners, requiring knowledge of networking and server management to get the system up and running effectively.
  • Limited Scalability
    While suitable for small to medium-sized networks, FOG Project may struggle to scale efficiently in larger enterprise environments with thousands of devices.
  • Dependency on Network Stability
    Since FOG Project relies heavily on network-based operations, any network instability or downtime can significantly impact its functionality and reliability.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility issues with certain hardware or newer operating systems not yet supported by the community, making it crucial to ensure compatibility before deployment.
  • Community-driven Support
    Support for FOG Project is community-driven, which may lead to slower response times and less formalized support options compared to commercial solutions.

CloneDeploy videos

CloneDeploy OnDemand OS Imaging using PXE running on FreeNAS

FOG Project videos

No FOG Project videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CloneDeploy and FOG Project)
Cyber Security
22 22%
78% 78
Monitoring Tools
50 50%
50% 50
Backup & Restore
36 36%
64% 64
File Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using CloneDeploy and FOG Project. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FOG Project seems to be a lot more popular than CloneDeploy. While we know about 69 links to FOG Project, we've tracked only 3 mentions of CloneDeploy. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CloneDeploy mentions (3)

FOG Project mentions (69)

  • Ask HN: Cleanest way to manage Windows OS?
    I heard about devbox [1] but I haven't tried it yet. Perhaps it could suit your needs. Back in the day I used "Norton Ghost" to create a full image of a just-installed windows just in case I needed to go back in time. Windows includes a snapshot feature built-in but I did not really trusted it. These days you can use a "sysprep" tool [2] to create a similar system snapshot. Make a partition and keep everything you... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Have i made my own linux distro? ^_^
    For provisioning the machines base image consider FOG it uses PXE and can remotely provision dozens of machines using multicast. Source: over 1 year ago
  • New machines with bloatware.
    Same. We set up 1 device how we want to, then use FOG to clone the other devices. Source: over 1 year ago
  • How to : Proxmox Windows VM to discard changes after reboot
    With standard computers, I usually deploy something like the fog project and automate the process over pxe with scheduled reboots. I guess you could do that as well with your VMs but that seems overkill. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Best procedure to run a small computer lab.
    You could setup a PXE server and automate installs. You could also clone them and reapply the image as needed. https://fogproject.org/ or lookup CloneZilla both are open source. Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing CloneDeploy and FOG Project, you can also consider the following products

SmartDeploy - SmartDeploy is hardware-independent imaging software that replaces traditional disk imaging software with single image management and pre-built drivers packs.

Clonezilla - Clonezilla is a suite of software that's designed to allow you to back-up and image new hard drives with your data.

Ivanti Unified Endpoint Manager - Consolidate & supercharge your endpoint security with desktop management software from Ivanti. Discover how to gain greater visibility into your devices while boosting productivity with Ivanti Unified Endpoint Manager.

Acronis True Image - (Formerly Acronis True Image) Complete protection for your digital life

Macrium Reflect - Macrium Software - the creators of Macrium Reflect backup, imaging and cloning software.

Toad for MySQL - Toad for MySQL is a freeware development tool that enables you to quickly and efficiently create...