Capturing an OS Image for Deployment
* Creating the Image Capture CD
* Preparing the reference computer
* Run the Image Capture Wizard
Creating the Image Capture CD
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Open SMS Administrator Console. Expand Site Database and select Image Packages. Right Click on Image Packages node, point to All Tasks and click on Create Operating System Image Capture CD.
* Click Next on the Welcome page of the Operating System Image Capture CD Wizard.
* On Windows PE settings page, select Include additional network drivers from this location and provide the path to the network drivers of reference computer. Click Next.
Note: Image capture process might fail if you will not provide Network Drivers path. Path can be local or UNC. See preparing the reference computer section in this post to know more about reference computer.
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Specify the name and path for the CD image (.iso file) and click Next on the Create CD image page.
* ISO image creation will start. Wait till the process is completed and click Finish on CD Creation Complete page.
Using any CD writing software, write the ISO file to a CD. This in turn will create a bootable CD that we will use to capture the image of the reference computer.
Preparing the reference computer
Reference computer is the master image that will be distributed to client computers. To prepare the reference computer install the desired operating system (Windows 2000 and XP professional), drivers, latest service pack, security updates, antivirus etc. Install and configure any packages and applications (MS office, Lotus notes, Sap client etc.) that you want to be a part of the master image. Once the reference computer is ready perform the steps listed below.
* Install the SMS 2003 SP1 advanced client on the reference computer. Manual installation will do.
* Reference computer must be a part of the workgroup. If reference computer is joined to domain, disjoin and join it to workgroup.
* Make sure that CD ROM is the first priority in boot order defined in the BIOS of the reference computer.
* Create a folder on the C: drive and name it as SYSPREP. From Windows XP CD copy or extract the contents of WINXPCD:\SUPPORT\TOOLS\DEPLOY.CAB to C:\SYSPREP.
Run the Image Capture Wizard
To capture the image of the reference computer we will run the Image Capture Wizard.
* Insert the Image Capture CD in the CD/DVD Rom drive of the reference computer. The Image Capture Wizard will start automatically. If not explore the image capture CD and click on OSDICW.exe to launch the wizard.
* Click Next on the Welcome page.
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On the Image Destination page, type an Image file name, Network location to copy the image and credentials to access the network location. Click Next.
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Type and confirm the Local administrator’s password of reference computer. Password must not be blank. Leave the Sysprep Parameters as default and click Next on Sysprep Parameters page.
* On the Image Properties page type the description of the image in the Comments frame. Assign an Image version number and type the appropriate name in created by frame. These fields are optional. These parameters are specified for proper management and tracking of OS images.
* Click Finish on the Capture Image page to start the capture process.
Sysprep will run on reference computer and system will shut down after sysprep. Turn on the reference computer and press any key to boot from the Image Capture CD. Image capture process will start. The progress windows will show the amount of time it will take to complete the capture process. Once the capture is completed, click OK on the Capture Complete dialog box.
The next step in OS deployment is to configure the OS Image package on SMS Server that is described in Part 2 of this post.
