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Automated Vista Installation Process at James Madison University

This document outlines the automated installation process for Windows Vista at James Madison University, catering to a student population exceeding 18,000. The approach involves utilizing a Dell Latitude series laptop and Apple laptops, although it remains applicable to any make or model. It details drop-off service authorization, a restricted gigabit network segment, and NAS storage strategies. The solution emphasizes minimal cost while ensuring fast, consistent deployments. Key tools from Microsoft, such as the Windows Automated Installation Kit and Windows System Image Manager, are employed to facilitate this streamlined process.

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Automated Vista Installation Process at James Madison University

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  1. Automated Vista Installation John Alger James Madison University algerja@jmu.edu

  2. Background • Student population (18000+) • 1 fulltime and 10 student staff • Call Volume: 2036+ calls • Recommended Standard: • Dell Business Laptop (Latitude series) • Apple Laptop • Reality: Any make/model/OS version • Drop off Service via authorization

  3. Environment • Restricted Gigabit network segment • Space for 35 laptops • 2 TB NAS in Raid 10 (effective 1 TB) • Images, user files, drivers and applications • Primary DHCP and DNS • PXE Client restricted

  4. Install Scenarios • Hard drive failure (~20%) • Under Dell warranty • OS refresh / Office if discs provided • Data recovery of old drive • Malware Infection (~5%) • Repair efforts unsuccessful • Last resort (requires approval)

  5. Needs • Minimal image library • Hardware independent • Fast Install • Consistent Deployment • Drivers installed • Applications installed • Minimal expense

  6. Solution • technet.microsoft.com • appdeploy.com • Microsoft WIM deployment • USB boot (WinPE 2.0) • Gigabit network • NAS (TeraStation Pro II) • Free Microsoft Imaging tools via WAIK

  7. Overview S Image Creation Image Maintenance Application Configuration Validate Installation Gather Drivers Install Applications Image Installation Install Drivers

  8. Imaging Resources Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • WAIK – Windows Automated Installation Kit • WSIM – Windows System Image Manager • Imagex – offline image manipulation • WINPE 2.0 – move CD to USB boot • OEM DVD for each OS version • install.wim from sources directory • Used to create initial system build • Target System • Sysprep – C:\Windows\system32\sysprep\ • Future image maintenance

  9. Create System Snapshot Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Bios (Legacy ATA operation) • Driverless as possible • Install from OEM DVD source • Fix settings applicable to all models • Install any necessary applications • OS and application patches • Turn off OS updates and remove temp files • Capture partition snapshot

  10. Create Answer File Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Install WAIK • Start Windows System Image Manager • Copy install.wim from DVD sources directory • Select Windows Image … option • Configure Components • Save answer file • Test … Test … Test

  11. WSIM Demo Installation Maintenance Image Creation ?

  12. Setup Phases Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • windowsPE • Used with DVD install • Product Key determines Vista version • specialize • Computer name • Product Key • generalize • Remove SID • Other hardware specifics

  13. Setup Phases (cont.) Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • auditSystem • Set DriversPath • Install drivers • auditUser • Enables Administrator • Install applications • oobeSystem • Local Accounts and passwords • Reseal system

  14. Sysprep Answer File Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? <settings pass="auditSystem"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpCustomizationsNonWinPE"processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <DriverPaths> <PathAndCredentialswcm:action="add" wcm:keyValue="1"> <Path>c:\sysdeploy</Path> </PathAndCredentials> </DriverPaths> </component> </settings>

  15. Image Prep Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Boot snapshot image • Place the sysprep answer file • CMD (Run As Administrator) • Invoke sysprep • /audit • /generalize • /shutdown • /unattend:sysprep.xml • Lots of testing 

  16. Image Capture Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Boot WinPE • Map to the NAS • Imagex • /capture (Vista Ultimate image first ) • /append (other Vista versions) • C: vista32.wim “Ultimate 32bit” • Archive previous images • Move vista32.wim into place on NAS

  17. Image File Layout Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Three images • Volume 1 – Vista Ultimate (largest) • Single File Instance Storage • Maximum compression • Offline file based maintenance • Non-destructive installation Vista Ultimate Business Home Premium vista32.wim image file

  18. Application Deployment Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • AppAdmin.exe • Saves Application Installation settings • Creates AppDeploy.ini • AppDeploy.exe • Reads in selected application to deploy • Installation Order • Sysprep file entries (alternate) • RunSynchronously • RunAsynchronously

  19. AppAdmin GUI Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Configure application install settings • Silent installation switches • Not included in base image • Order of installation • Global and model specific • appdeploy.com

  20. AppDeploy.ini Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? [Firefox] description=Mozilla Firefox 3.0.10 executable=Firefox Setup 3.0.10.exe switches=-ms source=c:\sysdeploy\app\firefox installOrder=d10a installAlways=Yes

  21. Drivers Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • NAS Structure • \osinstall\vista32bit\drivers • \Dell • \Latitude • D630 • Model directory • app – model specific applications • audio , storage, security, network, modem … • drivers are in uncompressed form

  22. VistaInstaller GUI Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Configure user account • Select OS version • Provide product key • Select applications • Media Direct (future)

  23. Vista Installer Process Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Prepares internal drive • Archives user files (if drive not formatted) • Removes previous Windows footprint • Applies selected image • Modifies the unattend.xml • Moves apps and drivers into c:\sysdeploy • Logs activity

  24. Image Deployment Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Boot target system from USB • WinPE 2.0, execute VistaInstaller • WMI Libraries (System information) • Diskpart – internal disk configuration • Imagex /apply vista32.wim 1 c: • Copy apps and model specific drivers • Reboot

  25. Installation Phases Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • WindowsPE • DVD install only • cdinstallsysprep file • Specialize phase • Product key • Computer name • Time zone • Audit phase • Administrator active (no UAC) • Driver path and driver installation • AppDeploy.exe • Application deployment (silent installs) • OOBE initialized

  26. OOBE Phase Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Administrator disabled (default) • User account created • User password set • System ready for inspection • Quality Control • Drivers via app install

  27. WMI Queries Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Install PowerShell from Windows Update • Download WMIExplorer.ps1 • Run PowerShell • Execute WMIExplorer.ps1 • Example • Select * from Win32_DiskPartition • Iterate through the result set

  28. Licensing Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Slmgr.vbs • upk • ipk <Product Key> • ato • Product Keys (scope) • Factory install (one to many) • DVD install (one to multiple) • COA (one only)

  29. Image Maintenance Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • Done as needed • OS updates • Application updates (part of image) • Process (each OS version): • Update System Snapshot • Sysprep image • Capture WIM • Test … Test … Test … • Replace previous vista32.wim

  30. Image Maintenance Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • External Applications • AppAdmin • AppDeploy.ini • Move apps to the NAS • New system models • Drivers copied to the NAS • AppAdmin (model specific) • Test some more 

  31. Image Maintenance Installation Maintenance Image Creation ? • 64bit architecture • Separate image file • Same Deployment method • WMI Query • Windows 7 • Same processes • WinPE 3.0 • Unknown issues

  32. Questions? EVAL: resnetsymposium.org/rspm/evaluation/ • Resource Links: • WAIK source technet.microsoft.com • WMI Explorer • http://thepowershellguy.com • WinPE 2.0 • Part of WAIK or … • Use Winbuilder - http://winbuilder.net • AutoIt v3 • http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3 • Application Deployment • http://appdeploy.com

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