Universal Image

[Guest]

Does anyone knows how to create a Win XP Pro. universal image? Currently i am
maintaining 6 images and these are all for new HP and Dell models example:
optiplex and Evod

Thank you!!!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Does anyone knows how to create a Win XP Pro. universal image?
Currently i am maintaining 6 images and these are all for new HP and
Dell models example: optiplex and Evod

sysprep...
Or just use the space which is cheap and an unattended process to install
all of your stuff on the different hardware types and create your images..
Or just distribute using a maintained unattended installation...

http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/www/wbeck/W2KXP.htm#Master
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/
http://unttended.msfn.org/
http://www.appdeploy.com/

 

[Glenn Fincher]

A single universal XP image is not likely possible as long as there are
needs for mutilple HAL types. Sysprep images are still limited by HAL's -
so with a Sysprep'd image, you will need one for each HAL in use. Remember
that modern processor architectures such as HyperThreading processors
complicate the landscape to some degree.

RIS in Server 2003 can do HAL "filtering" and unattended installs still
provide correct HAL detection, but both RIS & unattended installs are
significantly slower than typical "image" technologies. There are stated
workarounds available using the major imaging product suites from Symantec,
Acronis, & Altiris, as well as now in SMS 2003 w/OSD Feature Pack. Single
image solutions typically require significant creative scripting using
SMBIOS recognition code as well as "just in time" driver & HAL selection.

List your specific Dell & HP models, the imaging tools that you use, and
people on this forum will probably be able to assist with their own creative
solutions.

Glenn Fincher

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Comments inline:

Does anyone knows how to create a Win XP Pro. universal image?
Currently i am maintaining 6 images and these are all for new HP and
Dell models example: optiplex and Evod

sysprep...
Or just use the space which is cheap and an unattended process to
install all of your stuff on the different hardware types and create
your images.. Or just distribute using a maintained unattended
installation...
http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/www/wbeck/W2KXP.htm#Master
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/
http://unttended.msfn.org/
http://www.appdeploy.com/

A single universal XP image is not likely possible as long as there
are needs for mutilple HAL types. Sysprep images are still limited
by HAL's - so with a Sysprep'd image, you will need one for each HAL
in use. Remember that modern processor architectures such as
HyperThreading processors complicate the landscape to some degree.

RIS in Server 2003 can do HAL "filtering" and unattended installs
still provide correct HAL detection, but both RIS & unattended
installs are significantly slower than typical "image" technologies. There
are stated workarounds available using the major imaging
product suites from Symantec, Acronis, & Altiris, as well as now in
SMS 2003 w/OSD Feature Pack. Single image solutions typically
require significant creative scripting using SMBIOS recognition code
as well as "just in time" driver & HAL selection.
List your specific Dell & HP models, the imaging tools that you use,
and people on this forum will probably be able to assist with their
own creative solutions.

Notice the first link in my reply:
- http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/www/wbeck/W2KXP.htm#Master

Where there is a well laid out plan for creating a single image for 1300+
computers with multiple HAL types..

Also, the two links following that one can help someone create excellent
unattended deployments.
- http://unattended.sourceforge.net/
- http://unttended.msfn.org/

Personally - I have gotten to a point where maintaining one image is
something I do not feel is needed as space is not a concern and simply
maintaining the unattended installations I have setup and creating multiple
images and detecting which system when I apply them is easier.

A full unattended installation with dozens of applications takes under two
hours and then ghost image application can take anwhere from 7 to 25
minutes, depending on the options chosen for the unattended in question and
speed of the machine, network traffic, etc.