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Mastering the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
Mastering the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

Mastering the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit: Take a deep dive into the world of Windows desktop deployment using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

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Profile Icon Jeff Stokes Profile Icon Manuel Singer
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$19.99 per month
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4 (3 Ratings)
Paperback May 2016 330 pages 1st Edition
eBook
€28.99 €32.99
Paperback
€41.99
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Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m
Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Jeff Stokes Profile Icon Manuel Singer
Arrow right icon
$19.99 per month
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4 (3 Ratings)
Paperback May 2016 330 pages 1st Edition
eBook
€28.99 €32.99
Paperback
€41.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m
eBook
€28.99 €32.99
Paperback
€41.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m

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Mastering the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

Chapter 2. Setting Up Your Environment

In this chapter, we will cover setting up the basic environment:

  • Hosting OS configuration
  • Installing the Workbench
  • Discussing VM creation principles
  • Discussing general customizations of the share

Setting up MDT for the first time

To implement Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), one must have a properly provisioned system on which we can lay down the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) and MDT install files. It must have space, CPUs, some amount of RAM, and most importantly, quick network links to other systems.

All the particulars around these requirements of course depend on what you are using MDT for. Are you building a golden image with which you will deploy via another deployment system? Are you implementing a deployment scenario where you need to deploy to laptops, desktops, medical imaging systems, and point-of-sale devices at multiple sites around the world, all from one infrastructure?

Setting up the virtual machine

So, for the sake of moving things along, we'll start small—with nothing. In this chapter, we'll get started with a single system. In order to illustrate, we will be using Windows Server 2012 R2, so transfers will be faster...

Exploring the completed reference share

If we've completed the previous steps, we'll be rewarded with a reference share as shown in the following image, under Deployment Shares:

Exploring the completed reference share

Clicking on MDT Reference Share will give us a view of some folders. These mirror, to some extent, is the flat filesystem that we have created:

Exploring the completed reference share

As opposed to the filesystem shown in the following screenshot:

Exploring the completed reference share

Note the presence of or absence of an attribute, depending on your scenario requirements, matching folders. MDT is keeping some records out of the user interface (UI) for us. This is quite intentional.

Tip

For typical best practice, one does not have to go into the actual filesystem for anything. In fact, all the times I've had to modify the filesystem rather than the UI, I was doing something I either shouldn't have been doing (we'll call it experimenting) or trying to fix something someone else had done (by their experimenting).

Setting reference properties

The first thing to do with...

Updating up the deployment share

Next we're going to walk through updating the deployment share. Right-click on the reference share that we've just set up, and select Update Deployment Share:

Updating up the deployment share

The Update Deployment  Share Wizard dialog box will appear, as shown in the following image:

Updating up the deployment share

The defaults, as shown in the previous image, are fine here. You will typically only select the compress checkbox when you have retired a model of hardware and want to reclaim this driver whitespace out of the WinPE build. If you don't do this, it'll be consumed as you add newer drivers to the WinPE image. Click on Next.

Tip

The Completely regenerate the boot images option is typically used as a troubleshooting step when your boot media appears confused and it is best to rebuild from a known good set of settings rather than try to figure out what went wrong.

Automatic boot media creation

In the following screenshot of the Progress screen, MDT indicates that no existing boot image exists...

Importing an OS

Next we will be importing our OS. Create a folder structure in the Operating Systems area. This helps with the organization of selection profiles, which are a tool for driver organization we will get into later. It also looks better and is easier to logically manage, as shown in the following image:

Importing an OS

Right-click on the appropriate folder for the OS that you wish to import and click on Import Operating System. We need the ISO for media for this. I downloaded mine from MSDN and then mounted the ISO in Hyper-V so that it is presented to the MDT Server as a DVD:

Importing an OS

Choosing the type of OS to add

After selecting Import Operating System, you'll be asked something that probably doesn't make a lot of sense, Choose the type of operating system to add, as shown in the following screenshot:

Choosing the type of OS to add

For a reference image, we'd pretty much always start with a base OS DVD and use the top radio button for Full set of source files. However, the options are there...

Setting up MDT for the first time


To implement Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), one must have a properly provisioned system on which we can lay down the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) and MDT install files. It must have space, CPUs, some amount of RAM, and most importantly, quick network links to other systems.

All the particulars around these requirements of course depend on what you are using MDT for. Are you building a golden image with which you will deploy via another deployment system? Are you implementing a deployment scenario where you need to deploy to laptops, desktops, medical imaging systems, and point-of-sale devices at multiple sites around the world, all from one infrastructure?

Setting up the virtual machine

So, for the sake of moving things along, we'll start small—with nothing. In this chapter, we'll get started with a single system. In order to illustrate, we will be using Windows Server 2012 R2, so transfers will be faster over the new Server Message...

Exploring the completed reference share


If we've completed the previous steps, we'll be rewarded with a reference share as shown in the following image, under Deployment Shares:

Clicking on MDT Reference Share will give us a view of some folders. These mirror, to some extent, is the flat filesystem that we have created:

As opposed to the filesystem shown in the following screenshot:

Note the presence of or absence of an attribute, depending on your scenario requirements, matching folders. MDT is keeping some records out of the user interface (UI) for us. This is quite intentional.

Tip

For typical best practice, one does not have to go into the actual filesystem for anything. In fact, all the times I've had to modify the filesystem rather than the UI, I was doing something I either shouldn't have been doing (we'll call it experimenting) or trying to fix something someone else had done (by their experimenting).

Setting reference properties

The first thing to do with our reference share is...

Updating up the deployment share


Next we're going to walk through updating the deployment share. Right-click on the reference share that we've just set up, and select Update Deployment Share:

The Update Deployment  Share Wizard dialog box will appear, as shown in the following image:

The defaults, as shown in the previous image, are fine here. You will typically only select the compress checkbox when you have retired a model of hardware and want to reclaim this driver whitespace out of the WinPE build. If you don't do this, it'll be consumed as you add newer drivers to the WinPE image. Click on Next.

Tip

The Completely regenerate the boot images option is typically used as a troubleshooting step when your boot media appears confused and it is best to rebuild from a known good set of settings rather than try to figure out what went wrong.

Automatic boot media creation

In the following screenshot of the Progress screen, MDT indicates that no existing boot image exists, so it is creating a new...

Importing an OS


Next we will be importing our OS. Create a folder structure in the Operating Systems area. This helps with the organization of selection profiles, which are a tool for driver organization we will get into later. It also looks better and is easier to logically manage, as shown in the following image:

Right-click on the appropriate folder for the OS that you wish to import and click on Import Operating System. We need the ISO for media for this. I downloaded mine from MSDN and then mounted the ISO in Hyper-V so that it is presented to the MDT Server as a DVD:

Choosing the type of OS to add

After selecting Import Operating System, you'll be asked something that probably doesn't make a lot of sense, Choose the type of operating system to add, as shown in the following screenshot:

For a reference image, we'd pretty much always start with a base OS DVD and use the top radio button for Full set of source files. However, the options are there to import a custom WIM that is already...

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Key benefits

  • Learn Microsoft Deployment Toolkit best practices and how to adopt them into your deployment project
  • Troubleshoot task sequence errors and quickly resolve deployment blockers
  • An easy-to-follow, in-depth guide to image creation, customization, and deployment of Windows

Description

Topic The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) provides a comprehensive collection of tools, processes, and guidance for automating desktop and server deployments. It considerably reduces deployment time and standardizes desktop and server images. Moreover, MDT offers improved security and ongoing configuration management. Microsoft Deployment Toolkit is the official supported method of creating and customizing Windows images for deployment. Description: Starting from scratch, this book walks you through the MDT setup, task sequence creation, and image deployment steps in detail. Breaking down the various MDT concepts, this book will give you a thorough understanding of the deployment process. Beginning with imaging concepts and theory, you will go on to build a Microsoft Deployment Toolkit environment. You will understand the intricacies of customizing the default user profile in different versions of Windows. Driver handling can be a challenge for larger organizations; we’ll cover various driver concepts including mandatory driver profiles. ]Other important topics like the User State Migration Tool (USMT), configuration of XML files, and how to troubleshoot the USMT are also discussed in the book. We will cover the verifier and Windows Performance Toolkit for image validation scenarios. Furthermore, you will learn about MDT web frontend implementation as well as how to utilize the database capabilities of MDT for deeper deployment options. We’ll wrap it all up with some links to resources for more information, blogs to watch, and useful Twitter handles.

Who is this book for?

This book is ideal for those deploying or planning to deploy Windows, in need of a top-to-bottom guide on project deployment. It is also an invaluable resource for consultants who need a top-to-bottom guide (or just a refresher) on project deployment.

What you will learn

  • Build a production-ready MDT environment
  • Administer the environment for multiple users
  • Customize your reference image with an MDT Task Sequence
  • Create standalone media for offline deployments
  • Customize the default user profile according to the version of Windows
  • Get to grips with some troubleshooting steps and processes to reduce the time for recovery of a failed image
  • Customize and create Windows images for deployment
  • Discover useful tips and tricks to help save time in your deployment projects

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : May 31, 2016
Length: 330 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782172499
Vendor :
Microsoft
Concepts :
Tools :

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Product Details

Publication date : May 31, 2016
Length: 330 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782172499
Vendor :
Microsoft
Concepts :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

12 Chapters
1. Imaging Concepts and Theory Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Setting Up Your Environment Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Creating Reference Images Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Default User Profile Customization Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. CustomSettings.ini and Task Sequence Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Drivers Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Image Deployment Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. USMT – The User State Migration Tool Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Troubleshooting Deployment Logs Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Validating the Image Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
11. Database, UserExit Scripts, and Web Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
A. Additional Enterprise Configuration Items Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
(3 Ratings)
5 star 33.3%
4 star 33.3%
3 star 33.3%
2 star 0%
1 star 0%
C.I. Jun 21, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
If you were to take all the good blogs and online resources and compiled them into a book, this would be it. Not knowing anything about MDT and just the theory, I took a chance on this with a preorder. I ordered the Fundamentals too, which I read while waiting for the release date. I was a little disappointed when I received this book because it would have been ideal for me had it been published sooner and in essence saving me a lot of time. This is better than Fundamentals and I highly recommend this book. The book is clear and concise and easily searchable, I'll give this to a coworker and I'll order the Kindle version.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
98768 Sep 23, 2019
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
it made me smile
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Jason G. Gifford Feb 05, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
Book information is good, but the paperback is cheaply made. Pages started falling out the first day I opened it.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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