Topic: Deployment Machine Image from SME Server 7.X

[veebr0]

Hi guys,

Right, I have 5 new PC's (all identical) with XP SP3 that I have to reinstall some time due to some users try to install some no authorized software and of course a blue screen appear, the Idea is  with a SME server find a way to reinstall all those machines from the network, this means, all machine can be rebuild with a original image that will be located into the SME server and the users only need to reboot and the deployment will be automatically.

Thanks for All

[kryptos]

Hi,

Maybe you could start in this links

http://wiki.contribs.org/Tftp_server
http://wiki.contribs.org/Thinclient

I was able to deploy SME image using that one. I tried with windows xp but i fail maybe you could continue.


Regards,
Rocel

[veebr0]

Thanks Rocel for your advise, however the idea is to rebuild the machine complete, this mean that the user will have the opportunity to rebuild his machine under unattended way with all packet,  example (Windows XP, Office suite, antivirus,  etc)


Again thanks for your contribution.

Eviny

[kryptos]

Just re-create an image of your xp cd  and customize it using Nlite http://www.nliteos.com/index.html

Thanks Rocel for your advise, however the idea is to rebuild the machine complete, this mean that the user will have the opportunity to rebuild his machine under unattended way with all packet,  example (Windows XP, Office suite, antivirus,  etc)


Again thanks for your contribution.

Eviny

[David Harper]

If you want to take a snapshot of an entire machine, including installed applications and so forth, try using a combination of SysPrep and G4L.

1. Create a new ibay on the SME Server, and allow FTP access from local networks
2. Prepare your template machine with all the applications and settings
3. Download the Windows XP SP2 Deployment Tools (there are no new tools for SP3)
4. Create SysPrep.inf as per http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302577
5. Run SysPrep.exe; the computer will then shut down
6. Boot from the G4L CD on the template machine
7. Use G4L to copy an image of the template machine's hard drive to the SME Server ibay via FTP

Once this is done, to deploy the image on the other four machines is relatively easy.

1. Boot from the G4L CD
2. Use G4L to copy the image from the ibay
3, Reboot, and let SysPrep do its work

[veebr0]

Thank David for your advise really sound nice however do you know if exist a form that the user intervention will be minimal, this mean, for example I locking a form that the user only insert a CD and this CD contain an automatic tool that that will be do all.

Again many thanks for your advise.

Eviny

[David Harper]

Unless you buy Symantec Ghost, some user intervention will be required to deploy the image from the server to the clients.

The good news is that if you use SysPrep, once the hard drive actually boots post-deployment, the machine auto-configures itself and joins the domain etc, so they just log in after it's done with their standard credentials.

With regards to G4L, it's just a script so you could conceivably modify it for your use, but that would be overkill.