Compare

Nixorium and the alternatives.

Nixorium assumes NixOS on the managed PCs. Compare it with the tools a school lab usually runs, then with four technical alternatives: Clonezilla, FOG, Ansible, and Foreman.

Check whether it fits your lab →Coming from Windows →Read how it began →

School lab: Windows + Deep Freeze + Veyon, or Linux Mint + Clonezilla + Epoptes
Imaging: Clonezilla and FOG copy a prepared disk to every PC
Automation: Ansible and Foreman apply changes across many systems
Nixorium: Builds every PC from one lab configuration

The typical school lab

Three ways to run a school lab.

This compares the whole set of tools a school usually runs together, not single products.

Core workflow
Extra setup or a different workflow
Not a core feature

On narrow screens, scroll sideways to compare every tool. You can also focus the table and use the arrow keys.

Task	Nixorium	Windows + Deep Freeze + Veyon or NetSupport School	Linux Mint + Clonezilla + Epoptes or Veyon
Install a room of PCs	Network boot or USB/SSH	Separate cloning tool, or a higher Deep Freeze Cloud plan	Clonezilla over the network or from USB
Put every PC back in order each morning	The student home resets at every boot	Deep Freeze restores each PC at restart	No restore at restart: reimage the room or write scripts
See and lock student screens	Classroom view built into the controller: nothing to install on the PCs	Veyon or NetSupport School	Epoptes or Veyon
Block Internet during a test	Block Internet from the classroom view or the menu, included	Paid add-on in Veyon; included in NetSupport School	Not built into Epoptes; paid add-on in Veyon
Add software to every PC	One configuration, updated over the network	Thaw each PC to install, or a higher Deep Freeze Cloud plan	Install on each PC, or update the image and reimage
Student PCs without Internet	Only the controller needs Internet	Windows updates need Internet or a WSUS server	Each PC updates from the Internet, or you reimage
Undo an update that went wrong	Previous systems in the boot menu	Uninstall the update if Windows allows it, or reimage	Timeshift snapshots, set up on each PC
No licence fees	Free and open source; Assistant is optional and paid	Windows paid; Deep Freeze and NetSupport School paid per PC; Veyon free, its Internet control a paid add-on	Free and open source; Veyon’s Internet control is a paid add-on

Nixorium

Install a room of PCs: Network boot or USB/SSH
Put every PC back in order each morning: The student home resets at every boot
See and lock student screens: Classroom view built into the controller: nothing to install on the PCs
Block Internet during a test: Block Internet from the classroom view or the menu, included
Add software to every PC: One configuration, updated over the network
Student PCs without Internet: Only the controller needs Internet
Undo an update that went wrong: Previous systems in the boot menu
No licence fees: Free and open source; Assistant is optional and paid

Windows + Deep Freeze + Veyon or NetSupport School

Install a room of PCs: Separate cloning tool, or a higher Deep Freeze Cloud plan
Put every PC back in order each morning: Deep Freeze restores each PC at restart
See and lock student screens: Veyon or NetSupport School
Block Internet during a test: Paid add-on in Veyon; included in NetSupport School
Add software to every PC: Thaw each PC to install, or a higher Deep Freeze Cloud plan
Student PCs without Internet: Windows updates need Internet or a WSUS server
Undo an update that went wrong: Uninstall the update if Windows allows it, or reimage
No licence fees: Windows paid; Deep Freeze and NetSupport School paid per PC; Veyon free, its Internet control a paid add-on

Linux Mint + Clonezilla + Epoptes or Veyon

Install a room of PCs: Clonezilla over the network or from USB
Put every PC back in order each morning: No restore at restart: reimage the room or write scripts
See and lock student screens: Epoptes or Veyon
Block Internet during a test: Not built into Epoptes; paid add-on in Veyon
Add software to every PC: Install on each PC, or update the image and reimage
Student PCs without Internet: Each PC updates from the Internet, or you reimage
Undo an update that went wrong: Timeshift snapshots, set up on each PC
No licence fees: Free and open source; Veyon’s Internet control is a paid add-on

Sources, October 2026: Deep Freeze Standard, Deep Freeze Cloud, NetSupport School pricing, NetSupport School features, Veyon, Veyon add-ons, Windows Update FAQ, Windows licensing terms, Linux Mint, Linux Mint Update Manager, Clonezilla, Epoptes.

Eleven capabilities, five tools

Compare at a glance.

Same legend as above.

On narrow screens, scroll sideways to compare every tool. You can also focus the table and use the arrow keys.

Capability	Nixorium	Clonezilla	FOG Project	Ansible	Foreman
Build the OS from configuration	NixOS configuration	Cloned disk	Cloned disk	Playbooks	Templates + tools
Install PCs over the LAN	Network boot or USB/SSH	Server editions	Network imaging	Separate provisioner	Network boot + templates
Update without reimaging	From the controller	Reimage	Agent / snapins	Playbooks	Integrated tools
Update PCs that were switched off	Queued until switched on	Reimage at next network boot	Queued tasks	Rerun or ansible-pull	Recurring jobs
Limit configuration drift	Whole NixOS system	Restore image	Image / software policies	Desired-state playbooks	Via integrations
Install and update without client Internet	Integrated cache	Imaging workflow	Local services	Local content needed	Content setup needed
Reset student home at boot	Built in	Not core	Custom task	Custom playbook	Custom integration
Keep recent student snapshots	Built in	Not core	Not core	Custom playbook	Custom integration
Roll back without reimaging	NixOS generations	Restore image	Reimage	No native generations	No native generations
Manage multiple operating systems	NixOS only	Supported images	Supported images	Supported platforms	Supported platforms
Web management interface	Terminal interface	No web UI	Built in	Separate AWX controller	Built in

Nixorium

Build the OS from configuration: NixOS configuration
Install PCs over the LAN: Network boot or USB/SSH
Update without reimaging: From the controller
Update PCs that were switched off: Queued until switched on
Limit configuration drift: Whole NixOS system
Install and update without client Internet: Integrated cache
Reset student home at boot: Built in
Keep recent student snapshots: Built in
Roll back without reimaging: NixOS generations
Manage multiple operating systems: NixOS only
Web management interface: Terminal interface

Clonezilla

Build the OS from configuration: Cloned disk
Install PCs over the LAN: Server editions
Update without reimaging: Reimage
Update PCs that were switched off: Reimage at next network boot
Limit configuration drift: Restore image
Install and update without client Internet: Imaging workflow
Reset student home at boot: Not core
Keep recent student snapshots: Not core
Roll back without reimaging: Restore image
Manage multiple operating systems: Supported images
Web management interface: No web UI

FOG Project

Build the OS from configuration: Cloned disk
Install PCs over the LAN: Network imaging
Update without reimaging: Agent / snapins
Update PCs that were switched off: Queued tasks
Limit configuration drift: Image / software policies
Install and update without client Internet: Local services
Reset student home at boot: Custom task
Keep recent student snapshots: Not core
Roll back without reimaging: Reimage
Manage multiple operating systems: Supported images
Web management interface: Built in

Ansible

Build the OS from configuration: Playbooks
Install PCs over the LAN: Separate provisioner
Update without reimaging: Playbooks
Update PCs that were switched off: Rerun or ansible-pull
Limit configuration drift: Desired-state playbooks
Install and update without client Internet: Local content needed
Reset student home at boot: Custom playbook
Keep recent student snapshots: Custom playbook
Roll back without reimaging: No native generations
Manage multiple operating systems: Supported platforms
Web management interface: Separate AWX controller

Foreman

Build the OS from configuration: Templates + tools
Install PCs over the LAN: Network boot + templates
Update without reimaging: Integrated tools
Update PCs that were switched off: Recurring jobs
Limit configuration drift: Via integrations
Install and update without client Internet: Content setup needed
Reset student home at boot: Custom integration
Keep recent student snapshots: Custom integration
Roll back without reimaging: No native generations
Manage multiple operating systems: Supported platforms
Web management interface: Built in

Explore the workflow details

On narrow screens, scroll sideways to compare every tool. You can also focus the table and use the arrow keys.

Workflow	Nixorium	Clonezilla	FOG Project	Ansible	Foreman
Operating model	Build NixOS systems from one lab configuration	Clone and restore partitions or whole disks	Web-managed imaging plus client tasks and policies	Apply desired-state playbooks and roles	Manage server provisioning and lifecycle through templates and integrations
First installation	Network boot or USB/SSH, with disk confirmation at each PC	Live USB or network deployment with lite server / SE	Cloned-disk deployment over network boot	Orchestrate provisioning tools and platform integrations	Network boot, local media, templates, or images
Changes after installation	Deploy selected NixOS systems from the controller; PCs that are off update when switched on	Restore an updated image for a new baseline	Snapins; FOG 1.6+ also manages Windows software through its agent and Chocolatey	Run playbooks against installed systems	Configuration-management integrations and remote execution
Handling configuration drift	Reapply the lab configuration; student-home reset is separate	Restore the captured baseline	Reimage, run client tasks, or enforce supported software policies	Reapply the resources described by your playbooks	Apply policies through the configured management tools
Primary scope	A NixOS computer lab with shared desktop policy and student-home reset	Image-based backup, cloning, and recovery across supported filesystems	Network imaging and endpoint management; client features vary by version and OS	Automation across operating systems, platforms, and network devices	Physical, virtual, and cloud server lifecycle management

Nixorium

Operating model: Build NixOS systems from one lab configuration
First installation: Network boot or USB/SSH, with disk confirmation at each PC
Changes after installation: Deploy selected NixOS systems from the controller; PCs that are off update when switched on
Handling configuration drift: Reapply the lab configuration; student-home reset is separate
Primary scope: A NixOS computer lab with shared desktop policy and student-home reset

Clonezilla

Operating model: Clone and restore partitions or whole disks
First installation: Live USB or network deployment with lite server / SE
Changes after installation: Restore an updated image for a new baseline
Handling configuration drift: Restore the captured baseline
Primary scope: Image-based backup, cloning, and recovery across supported filesystems

FOG Project

Operating model: Web-managed imaging plus client tasks and policies
First installation: Cloned-disk deployment over network boot
Changes after installation: Snapins; FOG 1.6+ also manages Windows software through its agent and Chocolatey
Handling configuration drift: Reimage, run client tasks, or enforce supported software policies
Primary scope: Network imaging and endpoint management; client features vary by version and OS

Ansible

Operating model: Apply desired-state playbooks and roles
First installation: Orchestrate provisioning tools and platform integrations
Changes after installation: Run playbooks against installed systems
Handling configuration drift: Reapply the resources described by your playbooks
Primary scope: Automation across operating systems, platforms, and network devices

Foreman

Operating model: Manage server provisioning and lifecycle through templates and integrations
First installation: Network boot, local media, templates, or images
Changes after installation: Configuration-management integrations and remote execution
Handling configuration drift: Apply policies through the configured management tools
Primary scope: Physical, virtual, and cloud server lifecycle management

This compares typical workflows, not every possible extension. Project names link to official documentation, reviewed October 3, 2026. FOG’s software policies require FOG 1.6+ and its agent; snapins remain a separate workflow.

See how Nixorium works.

How it works →Review requirements