XP/WDS Deployment

[J***@community.nospam]

Hi,



My objective is to deploy XP over the network using Windows Server 2003. I
just wanted to clear up some confusion I've had will the different tools as
some other questions.



1) So did MDT 2008 replace all old versions of BDD?

2) Does light touch mean that it needs user input? And if so does the
Zero touch need SMS?

3) Are BDD/MDT just tools to help interface with WDS which is
ultimately how its handed down to the client?

4) Whats the latest version/release/download of WAIK? Does it include
a boot.wim that I can use for my deployment?

5) Can I capture a Windows XP box to a WIM file (thick image w/o
involving MDT) to be deployed using ImageX?

6) If Yes, will it lay down a sector based image or are WIM images
generally not sector based and so wont be HW specific?

7) Can I then use the Unattended.xml with WDS for the XP image?

8) Can I in general use WSIM (Windows System Image Manager) to build
answer files for XP or do I need to use Deply.cab to automate the minisetup?

9) Will all the WDS options (Client Naming Policy, which OU to place
the machine etc etc) work with the XP image deployment?

10) Can I use the Vista Boon.wim to push down an XP image?



Thanks, that's it for now.

[Dave Guenthner [MSFT]]

Answers in line...

1) So did MDT 2008 replace all old versions of BDD?
Yes

2) Does light touch mean that it needs user input? And if so does the
Zero touch need SMS?
Yes. It means that at a minimum user intervention is required to start
LiteTouch process. All of the wizards can be suppressed, so this could be
only F12 to PXE LiteTouch or booting from LiteTouch.iso. ZeroTouch
requires SMS/SCCM.

3) Are BDD/MDT just tools to help interface with WDS which is
ultimately how its handed down to the client?
No, MDT is an advanced accelerator which automates much of the heavy
lifting required by Administrators especially in the area of driver
management.

4) Whats the latest version/release/download of WAIK? Does it include
a boot.wim that I can use for my deployment?
WAIK 1.1. The boot.wim can be found on Vista/Windows 2008 media in the
sources directory.

5) Can I capture a Windows XP box to a WIM file (thick image w/o
involving MDT) to be deployed using ImageX?
Yes. Although I would recommend leveraging MDT to perform that task in
order to have a repeatable build process and for ease of Administration.

6) If Yes, will it lay down a sector based image or are WIM images
generally not sector based and so won't be HW specific?
ImageX is a file based backup, not hardware specific.

7) Can I then use the Unattended.xml with WDS for the XP image?
No. You must use a standard sysprep.inf whether you are using WDS or not.

8) Can I in general use WSIM (Windows System Image Manager) to build
answer files for XP or do I need to use Deply.cab to automate the minisetup?
No. WSIM technology is specific for Vista and beyond.

9) Will all the WDS options (Client Naming Policy, which OU to place
the machine etc etc) work with the XP image deployment?
Not sure about this one, although you can certainly run your WDS server is
mixed mode if needed.

10) Can I use the Vista Boon.wim to push down an XP image?
Yes. The boot.wim really just contains WinPE, the platform, for which tools
like ImageX can execute to deploy the image.

Dave Guenthner [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[Hugo]

Hi Dave !

Can you give me a quick overview what is doing what (wds vs mdt) ?

Thank you !

Hugo

Post by Dave Guenthner [MSFT]
Answers in line...
1) So did MDT 2008 replace all old versions of BDD?
Yes
2) Does light touch mean that it needs user input? And if so does the
Zero touch need SMS?
Yes. It means that at a minimum user intervention is required to start
LiteTouch process. All of the wizards can be suppressed, so this could be
only F12 to PXE LiteTouch or booting from LiteTouch.iso. ZeroTouch
requires SMS/SCCM.
3) Are BDD/MDT just tools to help interface with WDS which is
ultimately how its handed down to the client?
No, MDT is an advanced accelerator which automates much of the heavy
lifting required by Administrators especially in the area of driver
management.
4) Whats the latest version/release/download of WAIK? Does it include
a boot.wim that I can use for my deployment?
WAIK 1.1. The boot.wim can be found on Vista/Windows 2008 media in the
sources directory.
5) Can I capture a Windows XP box to a WIM file (thick image w/o
involving MDT) to be deployed using ImageX?
Yes. Although I would recommend leveraging MDT to perform that task in
order to have a repeatable build process and for ease of Administration.
6) If Yes, will it lay down a sector based image or are WIM images
generally not sector based and so won't be HW specific?
ImageX is a file based backup, not hardware specific.
7) Can I then use the Unattended.xml with WDS for the XP image?
No. You must use a standard sysprep.inf whether you are using WDS or not.
8) Can I in general use WSIM (Windows System Image Manager) to build
answer files for XP or do I need to use Deply.cab to automate the minisetup?
No. WSIM technology is specific for Vista and beyond.
9) Will all the WDS options (Client Naming Policy, which OU to place
the machine etc etc) work with the XP image deployment?
Not sure about this one, although you can certainly run your WDS server is
mixed mode if needed.
10) Can I use the Vista Boon.wim to push down an XP image?
Yes. The boot.wim really just contains WinPE, the platform, for which tools
like ImageX can execute to deploy the image.
Dave Guenthner [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.