Binary Research International (BRI) and Big Bang LLC released Big Bang’s Universal Imaging Utility (UIU) version 4.0.  The UIU works alongside existing cloning software to provide an out-of-the-box, hardware-independent solution to create a master Image of a Windows operating system.  This single Image can then be deployed across disparate hardware platforms, easing system deployment, maintenance, upgrades, rollouts and migrations, as well as disaster recovery efforts. The vanguard software application enables error-free deployment to every desktop, laptop and tablet PC in the business environment.

“I first used the UIU to wipe and reinstall 65 machines in five different offices, and suddenly, a task that would’ve taken me three to four months was reduced to a little more than two weeks,” said Jennifer McCann, a computer systems administrator at a federal agency.  “The cost of the UIU was recouped with the first machine we reconfigured.  I use it for reinstalls, upgrades, and disaster recovery preparation.  The UIU is a phenomenal solution that always saves significant amounts of time.”

A key feature in the new version is the UIU Discovery Tool, which enables users to include only the device drivers that are necessary and applicable to their environment.  By using only a subset of the more than 26,000 plug-and-play IDs included with the UIU, users will experience quicker deployments and reduced bandwidth consumption.

The UIU version 4.0 has a re-designed, more intuitive interface, allowing for easier navigation and is the only solution that works with cloning utilities such as Symantec Ghost, Altiris Deployment Solution, Novell ZENworks Acronis True Image and LANDesk.  Another notable new feature is that UIU’s Master Image Machine Integrity Check (MIMIC) also operates as a standalone diagnostic piece.  This utility is a software-based best practices tool, providing guidance in creating a compliant base image and ensuring error-free deployment. 

The UIU continues to be the lone hardware-independent solution that includes ongoing maintenance for the driver database.  This is the only way to ensure continual hardware-independence as manufacturers continue to release new sound and video cards, chipsets and other components.

Licensing for the UIU is per-seat, based on the number of computers that receive an image prepared with the UIU, and is perpetual, meaning a licensed computer can be re-imaged without requiring an additional license.  Pricing starts at $20.14 per-seat for 50 computers and drops to $9.12 for 5,000 or more licenses..