The Media Wizard is used to create a pre-installation environment that is used to boot and complete deployment to target devices. There are three typs of deployment media that can be created:
• Boot Media: Boot media contains only the necessary files and device drivers to boot a target device to the SmartDeploy Pre-Installation environment (SmartPE).
• Offline Deployment Media: Offline deployment media is self-contained with all the necessary files to complete the entire deployment, such as your captured OS image and Platform Packs.
• Deployment Package: A Deployment Package contains all the necessary components for a network based deployment initiated from the SmartDeploy Console. This is an alternative to using SmartDeploy boot media with Windows Deployment Serivces. For instructions on creating a Deployment Package see Network Deployment, on page 39.
1. From the Activities tab, select 5. Media to launch the Media Wizard.
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2. On the Welcome to the Media Wizard page, click Next.
3. Select a task and click Next.
a. To deploy an image with Windows Deployment Services, select Build boot media.
Note: If you want to use this media with Windows Deployment Services, check the box next to the WDS dropdown menu. If checked, the boot media will include an .iso file, plus a boot .wim file that can be easily imported into WDS. For more information about using WDS with SmartDeploy Enterprise, see The Windows Deployment Services (WDS) checkbox, on page 17 and download the guide How to Integrate SmartDeploy with Windows Deployment Services.
b. For offline deployments, select Create offline deployment media.
If you select this option, after you click Next the Select Image page appears. Click Browse and select the SmartDeploy image file you want to deploy. Click Open, and then click Next.
c. If you would like to deploy over your network from the SmartDeploy Console, select Create a deployment package and skip to Creating a Deployment Package, on page 49.
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4. On the Platform Pack page, click Browse. Select the folder that contains your Platform Packs.
This lets SmartPE load the drivers that are required to connect to a network and copy the image to the local hard disks. If you selected Offline Deployment Media, the full contents of all the Platform Packs will be copied to the media. Click OK, then click Next.
Note: If you downloaded a Platform Pack for your target device from SmartDeploy, you will already have the necessary network and mass driver support. If you modified a Platform Pack or created a new one, you should modify the Platform Pack (see page 20) to include support for Windows PE, which already has network and mass storage driver support included for many computers in the market today.
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5. On the Optional Components page, select the optional components that you want to add to the deployment environment.
Click Browse to select a custom SmartDeploy answer file for the target device. An answer file is created as part of running the Deploy Wizard. If you prefer to create your answer file now, click Create and follow the wizard. Otherwise, to create your answer file you will need to complete at least one deployment to a target device. As part of that process you can save the answer file and include it here so that subsequent deployments honor the automation settings contained in the answer file.
The Optional files option gives you the ability to copy additional resources to the Boot or Deployment media, such as a Readme.txt file that you would like included.
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6. On the Media Type page, select the media you want to use for the target device. If you are burning a CD or DVD, select the media capacity from the drop-down list. The Media Wizard can create images that span multiple disks, but all disks must be of the same type and capacity. If you select a removable drive, including external hard drives or USB drives, note that the drive will be formatted FAT32 and all information on it will be lost. Click Next.
a. If you created boot media for use with WDS Multicast, select the CD/DVD option, specify a location to save an ISO file. After the media is created you will have an .iso and a .wim file.
The .wim file is used for WDS.
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7. If you selected to burn a CD or DVD, the Save Options page appears. You can burn the image to an ISO file or to physical disks. Select the options for your image, and then click Next.
8. On the Creating Media page, click Finish.
9. When the deployment media is built, click OK.
You can now deploy an image to a target device.
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Deploy Your Image with SmartDeploy
There are multiple ways to deploy your image with SmartDeploy. The type of boot media you created with the Media Wizard will indicate which deployment method you will use. If you created boot media, you will load an image over a network to the target device, or integrate with WDS for PXE boot. If you created offline deployment media this creates a complete Deployment Package. This gives you flexibility in distributing images to computers regardless of location or connection type. If you created a Deployment Package follow the instructions for Network Deployment.
Network Deployment
Network based deployment with SmartDeploy using the SmartDeploy Console can be used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, creating boot media for use with Windows Deployment Services.
Before you begin:
Ensure you have setup a service account to be able to access the computer where your SmartDeploy Console is installed.
Installing the SmartDeploy Client on the Target Device
A client agent needs to be installed on the target machines in order to communicate with the SmartDeploy Console host.
Manually
1. From the SmartDeploy Console host, find the SDEClientSetup.exe in C:\Program File (x86)\
SmartDeploy\SmartDeploy Enterprise folder.
2. Copy this SDEClientSetup.exe to the target machines you want to deploy to, and run the executable.
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3. Click Next.
4. Read and accept the EULA, then click Next.
5. Enter the computer name or IP address of your Console host. Then click Next.
6. Click Install to complete the installation.
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7. From your SmartDeploy Console, select the Computer Management tab, and verify the client has established a connection with your Console.
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Automatically during deployment
1. Open the Answer File Wizard2. On the Welcome to the Answer File Wizard page, click on the Advanced button.
3. In the Advanced Options screen, click on the Client tab.
4. Check the box for Install SmartDeploy Enterprise Client during deployment and enter the name or IP address of the Console Server.
5. Click OK and complete the rest of the Answer File Wizard (see page 23).
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Using Group Policy
The SmartDeploy Client can be installed to your domain machines by configuring a startup script via Group Policy. Before we begin, ensure that you have the following:
• Domain Controller with Group Policy Management Installed
• A server to act as a file share We will walk through three steps:
1. Create a network share and copy the SDEClientSetup.exe installer to it 2. Download and edit the script SDEClientInstall.vbs
3. Configure a Group Policy startup script
Create a Network Share and Copy the SDEClientSetup.exe Installer 1. Select a machine to act as a file server.
2. Create a folder anywhere and give it a name. In this example, we have created a folder called SDEClientInstaller in the C root.
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3. Copy the SDEClientSetup.exe installer from your Console Host at C:\Program Files (x86)\
SmartDeploy\SmartDeploy Enterprise and save it to the folder you created on your server.
4. Right click on your server folder and select Properties, then click on the Sharing tab.
5. Click on Advanced Sharing...
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6. Check the box next to Share this Folder and enter in a name for the share in the Settings section. Click Apply to save these settings.
7. Click on Permissions and ensure that Everyone has the Read permission and close the Permissions and Advanced Sharing windows.
8. Back on the Folder Properties window, click the Security tab.
9. Confirm that the System account has at least the Read permission on the folder.
10. You have now successfully configured the file share.
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Download and Edit the Script
Download the SDEClientInstall.vbs here.
1. From your domain controller, copy the SDEClientInstall.vbs. Save it anywhere for now, as it will need to be copied to another folder later.
2. Right-click on the file and select Edit. The script should open in Notepad.
3. Change the following fields to match your environment:
• Server = “name of your file server machine”
• Share = “name of your folder share”
• ConsoleHost = “name or IP address of your SmartDeploy Console Host”
Note: If entering the computer name, please use only the NetBIOS name and not the Fully Qualified Domain Name (i.e. Server, rather than Server.Domain.Local).
4. Once the fields have been edited to match your environment, click on File and select Save or press Ctrl+S to save your changes.
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Configure a Group Policy Startup Script
1. From your domain controller, launch Group Policy Management.
2. Expand your Forest then Domains, then Your Domain, then Group Policy Objects, then right-click on Default Domain Policy and select Edit.
3. On Group Policy Management Editor, expand Computer Configuration, then Policies, then Windows Settings, then click on Scripts. Double-click on Startup to open the properties.
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4. In the Startup Properties window, click the Show Files... button at the bottom. A folder will open, copy the SDEClientInstall.vbs script you edited earlier into this folder.
5. Go back to the Startup Properties window and then click on Add...
6. Type just the name of the script into the Script Name box, e.g. SDEClientInsall.vbs. Then click OK to save. Your screen should now look like this:
7. Click OK to close the Properties window. You are now configured to install the client when your domain machines start up.
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Creating a Deployment Package
1. From the SmartDeploy Console, select the Deployment Packages tab from the left menu.
2. Click the
+
and then select Create a Deployment Package.50
3. On the Welcome to the Media Wizard page, click Next.
4. Select Create a Deployment Package on the Select Task page, then click Next.
5. Select your Platform Packs, then click Next.
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6. On the Required Components page, click Browse to select the Answer File you have created for remote deployment. If you have not yet created an answer file, select Create, and follow the Answer File Wizard (see page 23) to create your answer file.
7. Click Open, and then Next.
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8. Select the Media Architecture that matches your image (32-bit or 64-bit), then click Next.
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9. Enter a name for your deployment, then click Next.
10. Click Finish to create your Deployment Package.
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Deploying a Deployment Package
1. In the SmartDeploy Console, select the Computer Management tab.
2. Click on the All Computers group.
3. Right click on the device you want to deploy to. Navigate to Deploy, and then select Now.
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4. The Deployment Package wizard will appear. Select the Deployment Package you want to use from the dropdown. Then click OK to begin the deployment.
Note: You can allow the user to decline the deployment by checking the box in this window. By default it is left unchecked.
5. Your target device will receive the Deployment Package and automatically reboot into SmartPE and process your answer file to reimage your device.
a. If you checked the box to allow the user to defer deployment they will be prompted. If they chose to Decline the deployment, it will be cancelled and you will have to deploy again later.
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Deploy Wizard
In order to complete your image deployment on your target device, you must follow the prompts in Deploy Wizard to configure options for the deployment. If you previously built and created media with an unattended answer file, then you will not need to click through these prompts – the deployment will simply start after a countdown. If you previously built and created media with an attended answer file, all of the Deploy Wizard options will be preconfigured according to your Answer File, but you will need to click through Deploy Wizard, and you will have the chance to make changes as needed.
SmartDeploy Enterprise can deploy an image to a target device by using two methods: over a network or via standalone media. This portion of the User’s Guide will show you how to walk through the Deploy Wizard manually using boot media. If you would like to deploy your image using boot media and
Windows Deployment Services, download and follow the guide: How to Integrate SmartDeploy with Windows Deployment Services. If you previously created a Deployment Package with the Media Wizard and would like to deploy your image using your network and the SmartDeploy Console, see Network Deployment, on page 39.
1. Start the target device and enter the BIOS settings. The keystroke sequence varies by manufacturer, please consult the computer’s documentation for the sequence to do this.
2. Edit the boot sequence so the deployment media device is first on the list.
Note: Some older computers do not support booting from a USB device, such as an external hard drive or USB memory stick. Check with your computer manufacturer to determine if this method is supported. If not, you will need to build deployment media that is supported by your target device.
3. Insert the CD/DVD or attach the external device with the deployment environment to the target device.
4. Restart the target device. When prompted, press a key to boot the deployment environment.
5. In the SmartPE environment, you can click Settings to confirm the correct network and mass storage drivers for the target device are loaded.
6. Click Deploy an image. The Deploy Wizard starts.
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7. On the Welcome to the Deploy Wizard page, you have the option to customize several Advanced options that let you override Windows default settings.
For details about the Advanced options, see Appendix 4: Advanced Options, on page 86.
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8. After you have finished any changes to the Advanced settings, click Next. The Select Image page appears.
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10. In the Image name drop-down list, select the image that you want to deploy. Click Next.
9. Click Browse. If necessary, click Network to map and then browse to a network share where the image is located. Select the image, and then click Open.
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After clicking next on the Select Image dialog box, SmartDeploy will analyze the image’s
compatibility for the target device and scan for hardware support. SmartDeploy will look for any .PPK files in the same directory as the Image.wim file. If there is not a matching .PPK file for this device, SmartDeploy will prompt and allow you to go back to the Advanced Options page and specify the .PPK location. If the matching .PPK is in the same directory as the Image.wim file, no prompt will be visible and you will continue to the next dialog box. If no .PPK file is used for the target device, the only inbox drivers that are included with Windows will be applied.
11. On the Disk Options page, select the method for applying the image to the target device, and then click Next.
• Recreate drives will delete all existing partitions, recreate the necessary partitions, format the new partitions, and then write image data to the partitions. The new partition structure is based on the partition structure from the reference virtual machine, and will fill any previously unused space.
• Wipe and load drives will format only the target drives specified in the image, but will not change the target device’s hard disk partition scheme. You will receive an error if the existing partitions do not match the partition structure of the reference virtual machine.
This method will let you leave a folder structure on the hard disk as defined in the Advanced Options, Migration tab, on page 89.
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12. The Product Key page appears. If you did not specify a product key when you captured an image, you can type the product key now. Click Next.
13. On the User Information page, type the registered user’s name and organization. Click Next.
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14. On the Regional Settings page, specify the time zone and language. Click Next.
15. On the Display Settings page, you can accept the default of Auto Detect, or you can specify the target device’s display resolution, color depth, and refresh rate. Click Next.
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16. On the Network TCP/IP Settings page, you can accept the defaults and obtain network address information automatically, or you can specify the target device’s IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server information. Click Next.
17. On the Network Identification page, you can assign a name to the target device, and specify whether it will be a member of a domain or workgroup. When you have typed the target device’s network identification, click Next.
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18. Review the information on the Summary Page. Click Back to correct any information.
a. If you want to reuse these settings for future deployments, click Export to save the details as an XML answer file that can then be added to deployment media.
For more information about exporting an XML answer file, see Appendix 5: Exporting an XML Answer File, page 82.
19. When you are ready to deploy the image to the target device, click Next.
20. On the Completing the Deploy Wizard, click Finish.
21. The image is loaded onto the target device and the computer restarts.
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Additional Resources
License Wizard
SmartDeploy Enterprise is free to download, install, and use for up to 15 days. During this trial period you may use SmartDeploy Enterprise to create and update images, Platform Packs, and deployment media, as well as deploy to target devices. After the trial period expires, you will need to license the product and recreate your boot media to continue making deployments.
SmartDeploy Enterprise is licensed on a per-machine basis. A license is required for each machine on which a SmartDeploy Deployment Package is used. The total number of target machines on which you use SmartDeploy-created Deployment Packages may not exceed the quantity of machine licenses purchased.
Licensed SmartDeploy customers can check the status of their deployments at
www.smartdeploy.com/licensing. For more information on licensing see the Licensing FAQ and the End User License Agreement.
Activating SmartDeploy Enterprise
When you purchase a SmartDeploy Enterprise license, you will receive a unique 25 character product key. The product key is used to activate SmartDeploy Enterprise on the computer where it is installed (that is, the production computer). To activate your copy of SmartDeploy Enterprise, perform the following steps:
1. From the Tools tab, select License Wizard.
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2. On the Welcome to the License Wizard page, click Next.
3. On the License Task page, select Activate your product, and then click Next.
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4. On the Product Key page, enter the product key you received with your purchase, and then click Next.
5. Follow the remaining on-screen instructions to complete the wizard.
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Licensing and Activation FAQ
Licensing and Activation FAQ