Every time there is a new version of Windows, you have to deploy it. Microsoft has endeavored to make Windows deployment easier with each new version of Windows. Windows Vista in particular aims to ease deployment as much as possible. For this, Microsoft has developed two core technologies: a deployment engine and a new file-based disk image format. These deployment mechanisms support both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. In addition, the entire setup process has been modified in WS08 to move all of the decision-making to the end of setup process.
Deployment infrastructure features include:
• Windows Deployment Services A new version of the operating system deployment server tool, which allows you to stream system images to multiple end points through multicast in one single datastream.
• Windows Image Format A new file-based disk image format for installing Windows. • Initial Configuration Tasks A new startup screen that combines questions previously
Feature Windows Deployment Services
Description: Windows Deployment Services provides server-based operating system deployment tools. Supports remote boot of bare-metal machines and the downloading of new operating systems to them.
Category: Deployment Infrastructure
Feature: New ✓ Improvement Update Replacement
Feature Source: ✓ WS08 Vista WS03 R2 WS03 Service Packs
Installation: By Default ✓ Add-on Through Server Manager Custom
Applies to: Small ✓ Medium ✓ Large Organizations
Replaced Features
• Remote Installation Services (RIS)
• Automated Deployment Services (ADS)
Benefits
• Supports network-based installation of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, as well as Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
• Reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) through integrated deployment technologies.
Functions
• Deploys Windows operating systems to bare-metal machines (no OS installed).
• Works as an add-on to Windows Server 2003 or as a server role in WS08.
• Built on integrated Windows setup technologies, including Windows Pre-Execution (Windows PE), Windows Image Format (WIM), and Image-Based Setup (IBS).
• Supports Pre-Execution Boot (PXE)-enabled network cards for 32-bit systems and Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) for 64-bit systems.
• Uses Windows PE as native boot for OS installation.
• Multicast management tasks in both the graphical and command-line version of WDS.
• Client user interface indicating multicast transmission.
• Real-time client transmission view, plus discreet control over which clients should or shouldn’t receive a transmission.
• Progress monitoring on transmissions.
• Reporting and logging of installation status via Event Log.
• Support for installation of a stand-alone WDS multicast server with management console and command- line tool support.
• Datastream management, letting clients request the multicast or join midstream and still get a full installation.
• Based on new multicast protocol, including congestion and flow control, as well as bandwidth control.
• Supports ImageX deployments without requiring WDS or Active Directory.
PA
RT
I
PA
RT
I
PA
RT
I
Feature Windows Image Format
Description: Provides a hardware-agnostic image file format that captures entire disk images of Windows installations for redeployment. All installations of Windows, even new installation DVDs from Microsoft, rely on this image format.
Category: Deployment Infrastructure
Feature: ✓ New Improvement Update Replacement
Feature Source: WS08 ✓ Vista WS03 R2 WS03 Service Packs
Installation: ✓ By Default Add-on Through Server Manager Custom
Applies to: ✓ Small ✓ Medium ✓ Large Organizations
Replaced Feature • None
Benefits
• Supports both new installations and upgrades from previous versions of Windows (XP SP2 for Windows Vista and WS03 SP1 for WS08).
Functions
• Single image file can now work for computers using different Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) drivers.
• Single image file can support worldwide deployments in multiple languages.
• Relies on XML unattend installation files. One single unattend can support both new installations and installations prepared through the System Preparation (SysPrep) tool.
• Non-destructive imaging can support in-place upgrades, retaining both user settings and application settings while wiping out and replacing all OS components.
• Supports the Single Instance Store (SIS), letting organizations include multiple editions of Windows Vista, even Windows Server 2008, in the same distribution DVD.
• Includes a total of 36 language packs in support of worldwide deployments.
• Supports offline servicing, allowing system administrators to patch and upgrade images without having to rebuild a reference computer.
• Relies on System Image Manager (SIM) to manage unattend files through a graphical interface.
• Integrates with Windows PE for initial booting during the installation process.
• Supports the new IBS for Windows installations. All installations, even commercial DVDs from Microsoft, rely on IBS for installations.
Feature Initial Configuration Tasks
Description: Window that opens automatically after the operating system installation process is complete. This window allows administrators to finish the setup and the initial configuration of a new server.
Category: Deployment Infrastructure
Feature: ✓ New Improvement Update Replacement
Installation: ✓ By Default Add-on Through Server Manager Custom
Feature Initial Configuration Tasks
Applies to: ✓ Small ✓ Medium ✓ Large Organizations
Replaced Features
• Previous Windows setup process
Benefit
• A single source to finish setup and configure a new server, making sure that administrators do not forget any aspect of setup.
Functions
• Set the administrator password.
• Set the server IP address and join it to a domain.
• Configure Windows Update and Windows Firewall.
• Add roles and features to the server immediately after installation.
• Opt in or out to provide anonymous feedback to Microsoft.
Default Settings
• Administrator Password Forced change at first logon
• Computer Name Randomly assigned during installation and can be modified at this stage
• Domain Membership Not joined to a domain; joined to a workgroup called WORKGROUP
• Windows Updates Turned off
• Network Connections All connections are set to obtain IP addresses automatically by using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
• Windows Firewall Turned on
• Roles Installed No roles