"Programable" Imaging

[art1ll3ry]

Where I work - it is most similar to a LAN center - we have 28 gaming computers. In total, we have something over 100 devices on our network (XB1, PS4, training laptops and training computers, and the gaming computers). I am trying to figure out a way to keep the gaming computers updated - specifically the games and client applications that are on them. We are not allowed to have a server.

I keep one of the computers off of the floor in my office - my updater pc. From this I create an image of the two drives, clonezilla currently, and one by one, I re-image the computers. This can take anywhere from 1.5 - 2 hours per computer depending on what drives it has installed.

An idea recently came to me that I could use just about any imaging/cloning software to make an image of the updater pc every night and save/overwrite that image to our NAS and have all of the computers pull that image file. Then - and here's the part I can't work out, it may just not exist - find an imaging/cloning software that I can script or schedule to apply that image.

Essentially, the tough part, and my question:
Is there any software that can be scripted or scheduled to apply an image to the computer that it is actually on?

I hope this is explained well enough. Updater PC updates, creates an image around 03:00. Computers on the floor pull the image at 0500 and then image themselves at 05:30 or 06:00. Doors open at 08:00.

As far as additional info, I have no control or access to the controller, router, etc other than from the switches to the drops. Data xfr over the network seems to be limited to network shaping with no internal traffic or device exceptions 50-70Mbps; although with no control or access, I cannot be certain that this isn't the result of constant traffic.

I know that this is an odd set of circumstances. We are in the process of getting a network rework that will give us access and control to the actual network settings and I've been trying to find a way to obtain an exception to the server "prohibition", but neither are happening today or tomorrow and I don't like not being able to take care of my equipment.

Any help, advice, guidance or direction would and will be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone knows of a server that doesn't have the word server on the receipt/invoice, that would be cool too.

 

[samuria]

Instead of sending out loads of images if you use an imaging software that uses broadcast this just sends one image and the PC's can all be done in one go as it just broadcast and doesn't send to one PC Norton or acronis should be able to do it

 

[townsbg]

Any computer can be used as a sever if you put windows server on it. However racks specifically designed for that work best because they have the resources. Desktop versions can be used in a severely limited capacity for web hosting but I believe that the ability to push updates has to be done from Windows server. Personally I haven't set it up but I have installed windows server on a desktop.