Chapter 2 – Configuring System Images - System

Chapter 2 – Configuring System Images
Lesson 1 – Capturing System Images
Install Windows Automated Installation Toolkit (Windows AIK) :
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd349343.aspx
(download, mount in Virtual PC 2007 - install)
Windows AIK tools :
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Windows SIM ( opens Windows images, creates answer files, and manages
distribution shares and configuration sets)
ImageX (Captures, creates, modifies and applies Windows images)
DISM (Applies updates, drivers and language packs to a Windows image – comes
with Win 7)
Windows PE tools (Tools used to build and configure Windows PE Environments)
USMT (Used to migrate user data from a previous version of Windows to Windows
7)
OSCDIMG (Creates ISO Images)
Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE 3.0)
Used for deployment of client computers. A lightweight version of Windows 7. Used before
for deploying Windows OS; now as a platform for deploying workstations and servers in the
enterprise environment and as a recovery platform to run 32-bit and 64-bit recovery tools (in
ex. Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) .
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Copype.cmd (C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools) – create local
Windows PE Build directory.
Oscdimg – create ISO-image of Windows PE 3.0
ImageX – tool to capture WIM image.
Building an Answer file
Windows SIM utility in Windows AIK to create an answer file that includes basic Windows
Setup configuration and minimum Windows Welcome customizations.
Building a Reference Installation
You can create å reference installation by using the Windows product DVD and (optionally)
an answer file. If Windows 7 is going to be distributed to less than 5 computers, you can use
the method described. If you are going to distribute a large number of clients, it is more
efficient to create a WIM image and distribute it.
Windows Imaging Format
You can use ImageX Windows AIK tool to create a WIM file that images a reference
computer. Where ISO is sector-based, WIM is file based. The files are stored inside a single
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WIM database. A WIM file can contain multiple disk images, which are referenced either by
a numerical index or a unique name. Can be set bootable by /boot in ImageX.
Distributing an Image to many Computers
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) can be used on clients that boot from PXE. You can
use WDS on non-PXE computer by booting into a WDS captured image. WDS provides a
PXE-booted version of Windows PE. A WDA image is contained in a WIM file and is booted
over the network into a RAMDisk. The installation then proceeds under Windows PE.
MDT 2010 is the Microsoft solution accelerator for operating systems and application
deployment.
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The Lite Touch Installation (LTI) method requires a small degree of user intervention.
The Zero Touch Installation (ZTI) method requires no user intervention – but requires
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 and Microsoft SQL
Server.
Using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool (DISM)
You can use DISM to service a Windows image or to prepare a Windows PE image.
Using Sysprep to Prepare a Windows 7 installation
-
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%WINDIR%\System32\Sysprep
Prepares an installation of Windows for imaging or delivery to a user.
Configuration Passes – phases of Windows Setup during which you apply settings to
an unattended installation answer file.
Sysprep answer files – can be used to configure unattended Setup settings.
Resetting Windows 7 Activation – sysprep /generalize – 30 days activation time
resets. (You can also reset the activation clock by using the SkipRearm setting in the
Microsodt-Windows-Security-Licensing- SLC feature)
Log files :
o Generalize pass : %WINDIR%\System32\Sysprep\Panther
o Specialize pass : %WINDIR%\Panther
o Unattended Windows setup actions : %WINDIR%\Panther\ Unattendedgc
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Booting to Audit Mode or Windows Welcome
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Windows Welcome – by default all Windows installations boot to Windows
Welcome first. Aka Machine OOBE. Where users can customize their Windows
Installation (create user accounts, read/accept Microsoft Software License Terms and
choose Language and time zones).
Audit mode – enables enterprise organizations to customize their Windows images.
Skips Windows Welcome. You can for example add additional device drivers, install
applications and test installation validity.
[Exercises @ Page 84-86]
[LESSON REVIEW @ Page 87]
Lesson 2 – Managing Virtual Hard Disk Files
Managing Virtual Hard Disk Files (VHD)
The VHD format specifies a VHD encapsulation in a single file – capable of hosting file
systems and supporting standard disk operations. In Windows 7 Enterprise or Ultimate you
can use a native VHD to host the running OS without any parent OS or Virtual machine.
Creating a Native VHD : Right click My Computer and click Manage to open Computer
Management. You then select Disk Management, you can then right click Disk Management
and click Create VHD. You can also attach and detach a VHD in Disk Management.
You can also use Diskpart to do the same thing. Commands required in book p. 91.
Booting from VHD (Win 7 Ultimate & Enterprise only)
You first copy Install.wim from Windows 7 OS DVD into new VHD. You can then ass a
Boot Entry for the VHD using BCDEdit (commands on page 93).
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Using the Windows Image to Virtual Hard Disk Tool (WIM2VHD)
You can use WIM2VHD command-line tool to create VHD images from any Windows 7
installation source or from an image in a custom WIM file. WIM2VHD parameters : page 94.
Using the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool to Update a VHD
Requires a server running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003 SP2. Also requires
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) 2007 or SCVMM 2008. The
Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool updates VHD’s from a offline status. It boots the
VHD just long enough to make the VHD receive updates either from SCCM 2007or Windows
Server Update Service (WSUS). When VHD is updated, the tool reboots the client computer
from its default disk.
Deploying to an Online VHD Using Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
Enables you to deploy Windows 7 Enterprise or Ultimate remotely to bootable VHDs on
client computers. WDS is a server tool – runs on Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server
2008 R2. WDS provides the Windows Deployment Services MMC snap-in GUI tool and the
WDSUTIL command-line tool.
Using WDS Images
The difference between a boot image and an install image is that boot image is the image
which boot a client computer into to perform an operating system installation. Install images
are the operating systems images that you deploy to the client computer on internal disks.
With WDS you can :
- Create a Capture Image
- Add a Boot Image
- Create a Discover Image
- Add an Install Image
- Export an image
- Update an image
[Exercises @ Page 105-108]
[LESSON REVIEW @ Page 108]
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