System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) 2007 SP2 is the core foundation for performing Windows® operating system deployments within the enterprise. However, there are several other tools and technologies that complement and integrate with the ConfigMgr foundation to provide a fully automated end-to-end solution. Before covering these other technologies, it is worth pointing out that there are three new reports that come with ConfigMgr SP2 that will help identify which systems are capable and which ones that are not capable of upgrading to Windows 7. These reports can be found under the report category Upgrade Assessment – Windows 7.
Tools for the job:
Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows® 7 – Microsoft Windows® AIK gets installed along with ConfigMgr 2007 SP2. Have you ever wonder why the ConfigMgr DVD is so big? It is because it contains Windows® AIK installation (in the SMSSETUP directory). Windows® AIK contains many of the tools and utilities that ConfigMgr uses for OSD. The main ones are:
· Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool (DISM) – ConfigMgr uses DISM to apply updates, drivers and language packs to Windows images.
· User State Migration Tool (USMT) – is a tool that is used to migrate user data from the old operating system/computer to the new operating system/computer. Note that USMT version 4 is included with this version of the Windows® AIK and it will not migrate user data to Windows® XP. If you need to still need to migrate user data to XP, then you will need to use the previous version of USMT (3.0.1).
· Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) – is a light weight version of Windows that is used to deploy Windows. ConfigMgr uses Windows PE to create Boot Images that are used to deploy operating system Task Sequences.
· ImageX – ConfigMgr uses ImagX to capture and apply Windows images. ImageX can also be used outside of ConfigMgr to create, capture, modify and apply Windows images.
· Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) – is a tool that is used to create answer files that can be applied to Windows images.
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Update 1 – MDT 2010 Update 1 is a comprehensive set of tools and guidance that simplifies the operating system deployment process. The MDT Workbench can be as a standalone tool or it can be integrated with ConfigMgr to create the ultimate OSD solution. It provides ready to use Task Sequence templates for Client, Server, OEM and User Driven installations. In addition, it can be easily extended to manage the dynamic deployment of applications based on Make and Model, Role, Location and/or individual Computer.
1E Nomad Enterprise – includes two products: Nomad Branch and PXE Lite. Nomad Branch is an intelligent data transfer product that integrates with ConfigMgr to ensure that images and packages are transmitted only once across the WAN to remote locations. Nomad’s patented technology uses only available bandwidth and ensures that other network traffic remains unaffected. The data is then securely shared locally between peers without the need of local servers. PXE Lite on the other hand, is a PXE boot solution that provides the ability to deploy new operating systems to bare metal machines. PXE Lite integrates with ConfigMgr OSD and turns ordinary workstations, running a Windows® desktop operating system, into local PXE servers providing the ability to boot bare metal machines.
1E Shopping & 1E WakeUp – 1E Shopping is a user friendly interface that integrates with ConfigMgr and automates the request, approval, delivery and license control process for software applications and OS Deployment task sequences. It forms an integral part of our Windows 7 Migration solution as it provides end users the ability to request a machine rebuild, or to request specific applications that for whatever reason may not have been included in the build. It can also be used to request non ConfigMgr applications, such as a replacement laptop or desktop as part of a hardware refresh. 1E WakeUp integrates with Shopping to provide prompt delivery of applications that are requested. In addition, in order to successfully deploy images out of hours, WakeUp can be used in a zero touch scenario to wake up machines that are powered off or asleep.
Although not used directly for the deployment of Windows® operating systems, there are two other tools to mention that help out in the Assessment and Planning phases of an OSD project:
Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.6 – is a tool that is used to help customers understand and plan for application compatibility, especially when migrating to a new operating system. ACT 5.6 helps to prioritize applications and identify which applications in the environment are already compatible with Windows 7®. It contains several tools to help identify potential User Account Control (UAC) issues and Internet Explorer compatibility issues. In addition, there is an ACT Connector for ConfigMgr that inventories installed applications and creates reports on which applications are compatible. It also creates reports for devices and device driver compatibility.
Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 5.0 – is a Solution Accelerator tool that performs a detailed analysis of hardware and device compatibility for migrating to Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010 (as well as Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2). MAP also generates both summary level reports and detailed assessment reports in Microsoft Word and Excel formats for different migration scenarios.
In Part 3: The perfect match, we will look at ways to identify and address hardware and software compatibility issues.
Read the complete post at http://www.1e.com/techblog/post/2010/08/09/Windows-7-Deployment-the-1E-way-e28093-Part-2-Tools-for-the-job.aspx