We have a Mac server and since Apple is discontinuing Xserve, we are exploring other options. With the knowledge that one of the two main programs we use has a Linux version, we would like to know if there is a linux alternative to the other one.

The program we use that does not have an alternative that runs on Linux is DeployStudio (http://www.deploystudio.com/). Is there a alternative to this program that will run on Linux and provide the same function?

Without knowing exactly which features of DeployStudio you were looking for, I saw Wikipedia's list of disk cloning software lists both DeployStudio (under Mac) and various programmes which are implied to be equivalent on linux. Do any of these have the sort of functionality you were looking for?

Basically What we are looking for is a server that houses multiple images (windows 7, mac and possible Linux) and will then push it to iMac desktop. For example, I have to rebuild a iMac, I will first boot the mac to the network by holding 'N'. It will then boot off of the server and I can choose the image I wish to install.

DeployStudios allows us to do this as well as install dual OS images. The wiki site looks like just rescue disk type.

Well, I have done that using PXE (creating a TFTP+DHCP server on my desktop, then booting a laptop to the network, downloading one of the images stored on my desktop and booting from it). Perhaps you could use two programmes, one for each - one to create the OS image, then set up servers for PXE booting (or find some graphicy programme to do it for you)

However, having had a quick think, it occurred to me that Macs may not be able to boot using PXE. This thread discusses it, and seems to suggest it's possible but not necessarily easy. Hope this helps