Windows 7 Deployment Overview

100 Level – Windows 7 Deployment

By: Ed Horleyed@pacitpros.orgDate: March 2010

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Disclaimer!

• I am NOTan expert on deploying Windows 7 (I am a networking engineer for god sakes!)

• This is an overview of material from multiple Microsoft and other online resources

• The links are provided for the content – read it!

• We hope to have a follow up in the next two months that goes into a lot more depth

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Windows 7 Deployment

• Key Points:

– Windows Automated Installation Kit 2.0 (Windows AIK 2.0)

• Supports file-based disk imaging• Better scaling multicast support

– Windows Deployment Toolkit (Not covering)

– Deployment Scenarios

– Application Compatibility

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Deployment Platform Components

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New for Windows 7

• Windows System Image Manager– included in the AIK 2.0

• Windows Setup– Updated, it is now Setup.exe

• Sysprep– included natively, not a separate download

• Windows Preinstallation Environment– included in the AIK 2.0

• Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)– command-line tool - consolidates Package Manager, PEImg,

and Intlcfg

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New for Windows 7

• ImageX– command-line tool - can mount multiple images

simultaneously and do interim saves

• Windows Imaging– file based images allowing editing

• DiskPart– mount virtual hard disk (.vhd) files offline

• User State Migration Tool (USMT 4.0)– migrate user settings from old OS to Windows 7 -

included in the AIK

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Some Terminology

• Answer file– New xml file that scripts the setup and installation settings

for Windows 7– Either called: Unattend.xml or Autounattend.xml

• Image-based setup– Applying an image of an OS to a system

• Deployment share– A folder that contains the source files for Windows products

that you install

• Master computer– A master image machine that is set up as needed to

capture and build the master image

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Some Terminology

• Master Image– Files and folders that were captured from a master

installation, has OS, apps and anything else you want to add

• Master Installation– A Windows 7 install on a master computer that is used to

build the master image

• Package– A group of files that Microsoft provides to modify Windows 7

features

• Windows Image file– A compressed file containing all the files and folders to make

a Windows installation (file-based) - .wim file type

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Deployment Options

• Most standard deployments or migrations will make use of AIK 2.0

• The AIK 2.0 has most of the tools you need to do a variety of deployment options – download it

• If you are doing a large volume rollout then you should use MDT (Not going to cover that in this presentation)

• The User State Migration Tool is included in the AIK and allows you to migrate user settings – important if keeping user settings is a deal breaker in deploying Windows 7

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Windows 7 Deployment Enhancements

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•Deployment Deployment Image Servicing Image Servicing and Managementand Management

•Add/Remove Add/Remove Drivers and Drivers and PackagesPackages

•WIM and VHD WIM and VHD Image ManagementImage Management

•User State User State Migration ToolMigration Tool

•Hardlink MigrationHardlink Migration

•Offline File GatherOffline File Gather

•Improved user file Improved user file detectiondetection

•Microsoft Microsoft Deployment Deployment

ToolkitToolkit

•Application Application Compatibility Compatibility

ToolkitToolkit

•Microsoft Microsoft Assessment and Assessment and

PlanningPlanning

•Windows Windows Deployment Deployment

ServicesServices

•MulticastMulticast

•Multiple Stream Multiple Stream TransferTransfer

•Dynamic Driver Dynamic Driver ProvisioningProvisioning

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

Ed’s short list of what looks interesting

• Delivery:– Windows Deployment Services

• Multicast Enhancements• Dynamic Driver Provisioning

• Migration:– User State Migration

• Solutions:– Application Compatibility Toolkit

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Windows Deployment Services

• Update to Remote Installation Services (RIS)

• Replacement for other multicast push solutions like Ghost

• Uses TFTP to download network boot programs and images

• Uses Multicast Multiple Stream Transfer

• Has Dynamic Driver Provisioning

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WDS - Multicast Enhancements• Multiple Stream Transfer

– Multiple bands to broadcast images to clients

– Optimized rates per client connection

• Client Auto Removal– Slower clients can be

dropped to unicast or entirely (only in standard multicast)

• Boot Image Multicast– Windows PE boot

images can use multicast (clients with EFI)

•FastFast

•MediumMedium

•SlowSlow

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

•Clients

Multicast

•WDS Server

•Multicast •Transmission

•First client joins “transmission”

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

•Clients

•WDS Server

•Multicast •Transmission

•Waiting for other clients to join…

Multicast

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

•Clients with multiple transfer speeds

•WDS Server

•Multicast •Transmission

•Transmission begins…

Multicast

•Fastest

•Medium

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

•Clients with multiple transfer speeds

•WDS Server

•Multicast •Transmission

•Additional clients join stream

Multicast

•Fastest

•Medium

•Slowest

•Medium

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

•Clients with multiple transfer speeds

•WDS Server

•Multicast •Transmission

•More clients to join

Multicast

•Fastest

•Medium

•Slowest

•Medium

•Fastest

•Medium

•Medium

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

•Clients with multiple transfer speeds

•WDS Server

•Multicast

•First clients complete. Second broad-cast begins. One client removed.

Multicast

•Medium

•Medium

•Medium

•Medium

•Slowest

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

•Clients with multiple transfer speeds

•WDS Server

•Multicast

•Last clients complete…

Multicast

•Medium

•Medium

•Slowest

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

•Clients

•WDS Server

•Multicast

•All clients complete. •Transmission ends.

Multicast

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

WDS - Dynamic Driver Provisioning

•Client

•WDS Server

•Images Drivers

Driver targeting to match drivers to hardwareReduces image size and centralizes deployment driver management

Attribution- Microsoft TechEd 2008/9 Win7 Deployment by James Dent

User State Migration Tool

• Hardlink Migration – Enables local file migration without

copying or moving files– Processes migration jobs in third

of the time or less

• Offline User State Capture – Capture during Windows PE phase

to improve speed

• Volume Shadow Copy– Capture files even while they are in use

• Improved File Discovery– Reduces XML customization need

Deployment Scenarios

• Upgrade Computer– Upgrade from Vista SP1 to Windows 7 – only upgrade

option to Windows 7

• New Computer– New OS on a new computer - clean

• Refresh Computer– Similar to New Computer – restores old user state and

file info

• Replace Computer– User State Migration from old OS to new Windows 7 –

systems can be side by side during the process

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Application Compatibility

• Five primary tools to deal with Application Compatibility issues

– Program Compatibility Assistant

– Program Compatibility Troubleshooter Wizard

– Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT)

– Windows XP Mode

– Application Virtualization

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ACT – Separate Presentation

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Resource Links

• General references:– Deploying Windows 7: Essential Guidance from the

Windows 7 Resource Kit and Microsoft TechNet• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=EE2A1D38-

88A9-43B3-95BC-7E962F0B6030&displaylang=en

– Microsoft Deployment Toolkit• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3BD8561F-

77AC-4400-A0C1-FE871C461A89&displaylang=en

– Windows Automated Installation Kit• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=696dd665-

9f76-4177-a811-39c26d3b3b34&displaylang=en

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Questions and Answers

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Contact Info

Ed Horley ed@pacitpros.org

Blog: www.howfunky.com

Twitter: twitter.com/ehorley

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About Ed Horley

• Ed Horley is a Sr. Network Engineer for Peak IP Solutions, a Cisco Advanced UC, Advanced Security and Premier Certified Partner, Microsoft Gold Partner and VMware VAC and VIP enterprise Partner specializing in IP telephony, Security and Data Center Networking.

• Ed is a current Cisco TSS and a 6 time awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). He graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1992 with a BS in Civil Engineering.

• When he is not playing on network gear you can find him out on the lacrosse field as an Umpire for Women's Lacrosse. He is currently married to his wonderful wife Krys and has two children, Briana and Aisha. He lives and works in Walnut Creek, CA.

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