Imaging Environments are specialized OS’s that are used to boot client computers in order to upload images from or deploy images to.  Images that are created in one environment are not interchangeable with others. There are 2 environments to choose from.

Linux (LIE)

The Linux environment is the default imaging environment and is included with CloneDeploy.  No extra setup is required to use it.  CloneDeploy was created mainly for this environment and in most cases, this is the one you want to use.  It supports imaging a wide variety of Filesystems.

WinPE (WIE)

The WinPE environment is an additional environment created solely for imaging Windows.  Most of the time it is not needed, but does offer some additional features, such as secure boot support.  It also serves as a backup option for computers that are not compatible with the LIE.  Due to licensing restrictions, it is not distributed with CloneDeploy, but I have created an automated tool to create it for you.  See WinPE Imaging Environment for more info.

 

WinPE Linux
Supported Filesystems FAT32 / NTFS Almost Anything
Supported Filesystem Capture Level File File / Block
Capture Only Used Blocks Filesystems N/A FAT(12-16-32) / NTFS / exFAT
ext(2-3-4) / XFS / HFS+
Supported File Level Filesystems FAT32 / NTFS NTFS / ext(2-3-4)
Supported Partition Type GPT / MBR GPT / MBR
Supported Bios Type Legacy BIOS / EFI Legacy BIOS / EFI
Supported Boot Methods ISO / USB / PXE ISO / USB / PXE
Secure Boot Support Yes with
ISO / USB / PXE
Partial - only with
ISO / USB Or
PXE mode set to Grub
Speed Comparison Slower Than Linux Block
Comparable To Linux File
Faster Than WinPE
Multicast Yes Yes
Supports Dual Boot No Yes - Results Vary
Restore EFI Image To Bios Computer Yes Partial(Only with Standard partition layout)
Restore Bios Image to Efi Computer Yes Partial(Only with Standard partition layout)
Restore 4k Native Image To 512b Yes Partial(Only with File based image)
Restore 512b Image To 4k Native Yes Partial(Only with File based image)
Change Computer Name Yes Yes - Ntfs Only
Restore Image To Smaller Hard Drive Yes Yes - NTFS and
ext(2-3-4) Only
Expand Image To Fill Larger Hard Drive Yes Yes - NTFS XFS
and ext(2-3-4) Only
Extended Partitions No Yes

in Additional Help