| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| aval |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 7:28:48 PM
Situation: I have only two Windows 2K8 servers, one a domain controller (R2 at that) and the other is an Exchange server.
I may not (?) want to install MDT on either.
Or could I install it on the DC? While there is, on one hand, plenty of space for images (100 GB at least), there is only one partition.
Are there any Microsoft deployment options that would allow me to create an image on a Windows server elsewhere (test network) and place the resulting image on an external hard drive (or even USB key) and then boot from a USB key to grab the image from the external media and deploy it?
Granted, this is anything but ZTI, but... I'm not sure I have many options for installing MDT on my production servers.
Concerning the W2K8 R2 DC, I'm thinking that with the images stored on the single partition, the size of "full server backup" backups would be enormous. |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| arwidmark |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 6:01:32 PM
The process is about a creating an offline deployment solution. If you need to create a reference image (to speed up deployment) you need to do that first.
/ Johan |
| aval |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 4:16:32 PM
Johan,
I'm still working on getting all my OS updates and apps together.
Does the process you recommend (create and update a "media item")involve the creation of an actual "image" or am I rather just moving the structure of all these files (and the files) over to the USB key?
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| arwidmark |
Posted - 03/10/2012 : 08:06:47 AM
Here are the steps:
1. Prepare the deployment share on your Windows 7 machine, adding os, drivers, apps, updates etc.
2. Create a media item in the deployment workbench and configure the rules (there is a separate customsettings.ini for the media item)
3. Update the media item
4. Partition and format (NTFS) a USB stick and make the partition active
5. Copy the content of the media item to the USB stick
6. Go to a machine you want to deploy, boot from the USB stick, and voila, the MDT deployment starts
/ Johan |
| aval |
Posted - 03/09/2012 : 1:58:40 PM
So... I could create the image in question on a server elsewhere?
Then place the image on a USB key (flash drive).
And... boot from that USB key?
I assume I would have to copy certain boot and system files to that USB so it would boot (that would be logical). Could I do this in MDT?
Or would I need two distinct flash drives?
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| arwidmark |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 8:28:14 PM
MDT 2010/2012 Lite Touch only requires a shared folder so you host that on more or less any server. The best is of course a dedicated fileserver, but for small organizations you can co-host it with most other server roles. MDT 2010/2012 can generate an offline version of the deployment solution... Called offlined media. You can run that from a USB stick or DVD... Do not use USB harddrives, they are not very reliable to deploy os from (The setup might think its a fixed disk :) ).
/ Johan |
