The Nuts and Bolts of Windows 8 Deployment

Windows Deployment Tools

The next diagram shows the tools used to actually deploy in a Windows 8 environment.  Note the two types of deployment;

• Lite-touch deployment: Here you create a distribution share with operating systems, applications, device drivers, and updates using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT).  You then have to start each client computer by using the Windows PE image, follow the instructions to log on to the distribution shared resource, and then install Windows 8.
• Zero-touch deployment: As the name implies, no user intervention is required.  Installation is fully automated without interaction. You will require the MDT, but also the Windows User State Migration Toolkit (USMT) and the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK).

Windows Domain Services (DS) are also typical for mass deployments and Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) is a GUI-based system used to create and manage unattended Windows Setup answer files that configure and customize the default Windows installation.

 

Windows Deployment Process

de Jung also provides us with a great (and rather busy) schematic showing the steps to deploy Windows 8. Various tools are used to create the custom image for your install, which can then be pushed or pulled to client systems depending on whether a Lite Touch or Zero Touch strategy is employed.  The MDT greatly simplifies the process of deployment, but as in all deployments, careful planning is a prerequisite.

 

 

Share your own experiences deploying Windows 8 in the discussion below.

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