update 1 win2000 workstation on the next 24 workstations

[No_One]

Hi
Over Christmas I have been instucted by work to upgrade 6 departments.
Each department has 25 workstations all workstations in each department are
identical. Each department has different software packages installed.

in the past what we would do is update/cleanup remove temp files ect. on 1
workstation create an image put the image on the network then install that
image on all the rest in that department by going round to each workstation
with a boot disc and install the image from the network then change the
workstation's name while this is effective it is time consuming seeing that
there is restrictions on how many workstations that can be logged in by a
user at any one time.

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions to make this proccess quicker
or even remotely so other work can be carreid out whle the images are being
installed.

Cheers
Thanks

 

[andyi]

-----Original Message-----
Hi
Over Christmas I have been instucted by work to upgrade 6 departments.
Each department has 25 workstations all workstations in each department are
identical. Each department has different software packages installed.

in the past what we would do is update/cleanup remove temp files ect. on 1
workstation create an image put the image on the network then install that
image on all the rest in that department by going round to each workstation
with a boot disc and install the image from the network then change the
workstation's name while this is effective it is time consuming seeing that
there is restrictions on how many workstations that can be logged in by a
user at any one time.

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions to make this proccess quicker
or even remotely so other work can be carreid out whle the images are being
installed.

Cheers
Thanks


.
I have found that Unattended installs (fully automated)

in addition to GPO can get you very far, and be faster
than images. Sample PC build:

1) put in the Windows CD (that it can boot from) and
floppy with your unattended file (winnt.sif). The CD can
contain all of the drivers for that HW type, as well as
other folders to install stuff; slipstream SP, etc.
2) Let the PC boot and build from CD/floppy. In about 20
minutes, you have a built PC, with the latest SP, IE6SP1
(from additional folder onCD), all HW drivers, joined to
the domain (pre-stage computer accounts) and it can load
whatever else you can cram into it.
3) GPO can deploy Office (or other MSI programs), push
out Anti-Virus from the server, etc. All that is left is
custom software (hopefully it has a MSI file). GPO also
to connect to Software Update Services on the LAN for
Windows Updates.


Net result - a PC takes about 45 minutes to build with
OS, service pack, IE latest build, Office, anti-virus,
and it will get the Windows Updates on the schedule you
told it. Do about 25+ PCs at a time (start a batch, then
start the next batch, etc.). I redid an entire building
80 PCs, in addition to moving from NT4/Exchange5.5/SQL7
to W2K/Ex2K/SQL2K in about 20 hours (80 or so PCs, 3
servers) - including logging in as end users and loading
special stuff.