SOE OS Deployment

[Guest]

I'm trying to figure out what's the best way for my company to automate OS
and Apps deployment. My main problem is that I'm dealing with a very
heterogeneous environment. We have around 30-35 different types of machines
for a total of 800 laptops and workstations.

So far, I think my best bet is to use RIS to deploy an unattended
installation of Windows XP and then using SMS to deploy my apps & patches.
This way I don't have to maintain 35 different images. The only downside I
see to this method is the time it takes to build a machine.

I would like to know what you guys think? Anyone has experience with an
heterogeneous environment? Most of the products design to deploy OS seem to
focus on Imaging within an homogenous enverionement (RIS, SMS OSD, Ghost,
etc).

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[WM]

Exactly how heterogeneous are your systems?

The main concern to watch for if you are using imaging is the HALs you have
in use. Generally this will range from 1-3. There are six potential HALs for
X86.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm trying to figure out what's the best way for my company to
automate OS and Apps deployment. My main problem is that I'm dealing
with a very heterogeneous environment. We have around 30-35 different
types of machines for a total of 800 laptops and workstations.

So far, I think my best bet is to use RIS to deploy an unattended
installation of Windows XP and then using SMS to deploy my apps &
patches. This way I don't have to maintain 35 different images. The
only downside I see to this method is the time it takes to build a
machine.

I would like to know what you guys think? Anyone has experience with
an heterogeneous environment? Most of the products design to deploy
OS seem to focus on Imaging within an homogenous enverionement (RIS,
SMS OSD, Ghost, etc).

35 different images may not be necessary depending on the differences in the
hardware.
I have used a combination in the past of unattended installations and
imaging to speed things alone. Works great.

Information on RIS:
How to Deploy Windows XP Images from Windows 2000 RIS Servers
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304314

Information on RIS:
Step-by-Step Guide to Remote OS Installation
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/howto/remoteos.mspx Unattended Install over Network: http://unattended.sourceforge.net Unattended Install with CD/DVD: http://unattended.msfn.org Single image (XP) for many different hardware types: http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/www/wbeck/W2KXP.htm#Master for a ghost and a sysprep version. Make/deploy packages and scripts (install other applications.) http://www.appdeploy.com/ Business Desktop Deployment http://www.microsoft.com/technet/desktopdeployment/articles/032805ds.mspx--Shenan Stanley MS-MVP--How To Ask Questions The Smart Wayhttp://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html