Automated Vista Installation

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