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Get ready to deploy Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Beta 2.
The Windows® 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2 launches are just around the corner. As you prepare to deploy these operating systems, get a jump start with Microsoft® Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Beta 2. Leverage this Solution Accelerator to achieve efficient, cost-effective deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
MDT 2010 is the next version of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, a Solution Accelerator for operating system and application deployment. New features such as flexible driver management, optimized user interface workflow, and Windows PowerShell™ can simplify deployment and make your job easier. MDT 2010 will support deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in addition to deployment of Windows Vista®, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP. Join the beta now!
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit is the recommended process and toolset for automating desktop and server deployment. MDT provides you with the following benefits:
- Unified tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment in a common deployment console and collection of guidance.
- Reduced deployment time and standardized desktop and server images, along with improved security and ongoing configuration management.
- Fully automated zero touch installation deployments by leveraging System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 2 beta and Windows deployment tools. For those without a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 infrastructure, MDT leverages Windows deployment tools for lite touch installation deployments.
New Functionality
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Beta 2 is a significant upgrade over MDT 2010 Beta 1. MDT 2010 Beta 2 adds the following new features and functionality:
Deployment Workbench Enhancements
- Manage multiple Deployment Shares from a single Deployment Workbench including local Deployment Shares or from a network location including standalone DFS shares
- Replicate content between Deployment Shares through "Linked Deployment Shares" and use selection profiles to manage what content gets replicated
- Multiple users can now interact with the same Deployment Share
- Create folders to manage Drivers, Task Sequences, Operating Systems, and OS Packages
- Drag-and-drop, copy-and-paste, and cut-and-paste between folders or between Deployment Shares
Powershell Capabilities
- Anything done from within the Deployment Workbench can be scripted through Powershell
- A drive provider has been added for enumerating folders, items, and properties
- Cmdlets can be used for importing content such as Drivers, Operating Systems, Task Sequences, etc.
Task Sequence and Script Enhancements
- Improved Diagnostics and Logging with more specific error messages
- Real time logging directly to a network share
- Enhanced log collection
- Two new task sequence templates (Capture Only, Post OS Installation)
- Pause and Resume a task sequence
- Automatically detect and fix domain join problems
- Improved user interface for client wizards
- Deploy to a specified disk or partition (Vista or later)
- Refresh Bitlocker encrypted systems to Windows 7 without decrypting the contents of the disk
Configuration Manager Enhancements
- Improved wizard for creating task sequences
- USMT 4.0 hard-link support
Next Steps
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Beta 2 is now available! To invite customers and partners to join the Beta program, forward them the information in this e-mail message.
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Open Beta for MDT 2010—Join Now
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
Deploy Windows 7 beta with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010. Join the beta at http://connect.microsoft.com. Follow the instructions on this blog post to get connected to the Beta: http://blogs.technet.com/msdeployment/archive/2008/12/03/a-new-version-is-coming-soon.aspx
MDT 2010 is the next version of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, a solution accelerator for operating system and application deployment. New features like flexible driver management, optimized transaction processing, and access to distribution shares from any location simplify deployment and make your job easier. Deploy faster and easier with MDT 2010. Join the beta now.
Tell us what you think! Join the beta and send us your honest feedback. We appreciate your input.
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit is the fourth generation deployment accelerator from Microsoft. It is the recommended process and toolset to automate desktop and server deployment. MDT benefits you by providing:
· Detailed guidance and job aids for every organized role involved with large-scale deployment projects.
- Unified tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment in a common deployment console and collection of guidance.
- Reduced deployment time, standardized desktop and server images, along with improved security and ongoing configuration management.
New Functionality
- Support for deploying Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 in addition to deploying Windows Vista SP1, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP SP3, and Windows 2003 SP2
- Hard Link Migrations using USMT 4 for Refresh scenarios which will dramatically reduce your user state backup and restore time
- Integration of the new Windows AIK 2.0 Beta toolset such as DISM and BCDBOOT, and Windows PE 3.0
Join the Beta
Additional infrastructure deployment tools are available as beta releases on the Connect Web site. They are open beta downloads. See below for instructions on how to access the Connect Web site.
To join the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Beta, follow these steps:
1. Visit the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Beta at http://connect.microsoft.com.
2. Sign in using a valid Windows Live ID to continue to the Invitations page.
3. Scroll down to Microsoft Deployment Connection.
If you have not previously registered with Microsoft Connect, you might be required to register before continuing with the invitation process.
If the link in step 1 does not work for you, copy the link and paste it into the Web browser address bar.
Related Resources
Check out other Solution Accelerators! Visit the SAT page on TechNet, http://www.microsoft.com/solutionaccelerators, for additional information.
We appreciate your comments and feedback, please send mail to satfdbk@microsoft.com
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The latest version of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, MDT 2010, is currently being developed. This new version, which is due to be released shortly after the Windows 7 release, will offer:
- Support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
- Deployment Workbench and script architecture improvements.
- Documentation improvements.
The first beta release will be made available in the coming weeks. Please sign up for at the Connect website to be notified as soon as it is available, if you haven’t already done so. To sign up, follow these simple steps:
- Access http://connect.microsoft.com.
- Sign on using any valid Live ID.
- From the Connection Directory, find the “Solution Accelerators” connection.
- Apply for the “Microsoft Deployment Toolkit” program. Approval is automatic.
We look forward to receiving your feedback on this new MDT 2010 version and encourage you to use the Connect site for that feedback.
If you have suggestions, comments, or concerns about MDT 2008 (the current release), please submit that through the Connect site as well.
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We recently had the honor of sitting down with Technet Radio and recording a series of FAQ's about MDT 2008 and a brief discussion on the next version of MDT.
You can download the podcast directly from here:
WMA
MP3 High Bandwidth
MP3 Low Bandwidth
Enjoy!
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We are going to be featured on the Technet Radio podcast and we want to know what you would like us to talk about! Now is your chance to get your deployment questions answered or here us talk about a topic that you have always wondered about.
Feel free to leave your topics as comments or email us through the link.
Thanks!
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Register here!
Join consultants from Microsoft’s Consulting Services for the 6th session in the MCS Talks Infrastructure Architecture series. In this session we’ll discuss our approach to deploying a new desktop to an enterprise environment. We’ll discuss desktop deployment strategies and technologies including the importance of understanding your existing infrastructure and some of the options for auditing your current environment. We’ll also cover some important considerations for preparing your infrastructure for a desktop deployment, what technologies are available and how to best to implement them to support an enterprise deployment. Finally we’ll wrap up the session by having a brief look at the multitude of virtualization technologies and how they can be used to simplify and accelerate a deployment project.
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We've received a number of questions over the past few days on the best way to upgrade from MDT 2008 to MDT 2008 Update 1 without losing any settings. The most common problem that has been seen is that the Deployment Points are no longer present after installing MDT 2008 Update 1. The following instructions will allow you to upgrade and maintain all of your existing settings:
1. Before installing MDT 2008 Update make a backup of the Deploy.XML file. The file is located by default in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Control
2. Install the MDT 2008 Update 1 MSI
3. Launch the Deployment Workbench and right click on Distribution Share and choose Create distribution share directory
4. A wizard will then be presented. Choose Upgrade an existing distribution share and type or browse to the path of your existing distribution share. Check the check box to Backup existing scripts and configuration files and click on Finish (the files will be backed up to the Distribution\Backup folder)
5. Close the Deployment Workbench and restore the Deploy.xml that was backed up earler to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Control, overwriting the existing file
6. Launch the Deployment Workbench, navigate to the Deployment Points and your Deployment Points should now be visible.
7. Right click on each Deployment Point and choose Update. This will update all of the Windows PE images with the correct version of the scripts
8. If you are using WDS, you will now need to replace your boot image in WDS with the updated Lite Touch WIM file
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We've received several questions over the past few days regarding the Help, About Microsoft Deployment Workbench showing 4.1 even after the upgrade to MDT 2008 Update 1:
The reason why the Help, About Microsoft Deployment Workbench shows Version 4.1 is due to caching that can occur with certain DLL's. In this case the value of the previous installation of that screen can be found here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache\@C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Bin\Microsoft.BDD.WorkbenchResources.dll,-105
If you previously had MDT 2008 installed the value was cached in this location and unfortunately does not update properly after the installation of MDT 2008 Update 1.
So how do you determine if you have the correct version installed? The correct version of MDT 2008 Update 1 is 4.2.523.40. This can be found by going into Add/Remove Programs. You should see an entry like the following:
If the About window really bothers you, you can delete the registry entry mentioned above and it will then update with the correct version number. :)
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We are pleased to announce the release of our first update to Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 (MDT 2008). We have added two major features: OEM preload scenarios for Lite Touch Installation and Zero Touch Installation with System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and a new management pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1. Minor updates include bug fixes and design changes to override driver platforms as well as the ability to inject all drivers into Windows PE.
Get MDT 2008 Update 1 and the new Quick Start Guides from the Download Center. All of the latest documentation can be found within updated and searchable help files. However, if you would like a full collection of the Word documents, download it here.
Add these great deployment blogs to your list of resources: these experts are always sharing their latest knowledge around deployment. MS Deployment, Deployment Guys, Michael Niehaus
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That is a really long title to a recent KB article that has been posted about an issue with MDT 2008. You can get the full details here: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=952573
Note the Applies To section should state Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008.
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Source Code for Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 has been released
We have released Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 (build number 4.1.523.0) source code for customers and partners who want to make modifications, enhancements, or bug fixes to MDT’s components. Source Code is current as of the March 2008 release of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.
Source code for MDT 2008 can be downloaded from Microsoft download center: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=117775
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Announcing Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 – now Windows Vista SP1-Ready!
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 was Released to Web via Windows Update and Download Center this Tuesday and we know there are a lot of companies waiting to deploy it into production. You may be familiar with the Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) tools from the past and the latest version, dubbed Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) which was released in November. We changed the name from BDD because you can now build images and deploy desktops and servers (including Windows Server 2008) with the same toolkit and we thought MDT better reflected that functionality. Today we’re excited to announce the release of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008! MDT makes imaging and deployment much easier with its new checklist and wizard-driven user interface. At the same time it continues to provide lots of great in-depth guidance for managing your deployment projects end-to-end, as well as quickstart guides if you want to quickly dive into the tools. If you are among the more than 350,000 people still using BDD 2007, we didn’t forget about you. An update for BDD 2007 to support SP1 imaging and deployment is also available today.
Both these tools can save you lots of time in planning and building out a standard desktop experience all the way to rolling OS images out into production. Download MDT 2008 or the updated BDD 2007 today. For more information, go to http://www.microsoft.com/deployment or contact a Desktop Deployment Planning Services specialist.
In addition to Service Pack 1 support for Windows Vista, MDT 2008 also has the following new features:
- Full support for Windows Server 2008
- Additional Actions including Configure DHCP, Authorize DHCP, Configure DNS, and Configure ADDS
- New scripts that will automate the installation of Mass Storage Drivers for Windows XP and Windows 2003 Systems
- Ability to use a WSUS server for the Windows Update script
- Improved performance for the PXE Filter for System Center Configuration Manager unknown computer support
- Improved documentation including a new Quick Start Guide for System Center Configuration Manager and a guide for implementing the Management Pack for System Center Operations Manager
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We've added a new FAQ item with information on how to change the "IT Organization" text for SMS 2003 OSD Deployments. See our FAQ for more information:
http://blogs.technet.com/msdeployment/archive/2008/01/25/microsoft-deployment-technical-faq.aspx
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We have received a number of emails and questions on how to receive support from Premier Support for Microsoft Deployment. There have been several of you who have been routed to the incorrect support person while trying to receive support for Microsoft Deployment. We apologize for your frustration and inconvenience.
To get routed to the correct support person, follow these instructions. Please note that support for Microsoft Deployment is done on via callback with response times generally ranging between 1 and 4 hours depending on the severity of your issue and the other issues in the queue.
To receive support:
a) Call the support number (1-800-936-3500) http://www.microsoft.com/services/microsoftservices/srv_premier.mspx) or
b) Submit a web incident http://support.microsoft.com/select/default.aspx?target=assistance&c1=508&
c) Clearly state that you have a BDD/MDT issue. (If you talk about deployment they will be routed to a different queue. ).
Thank you and please let us know if you have any problems receiving support in the future.
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Some of your favorite deployment guys including Ben Hunter, Richard Smith, Adam Shepherd, Daniel Oxley and more have teamed up to create a blog called Deployment Guys. They are just getting started but already have some good information on their blog. Make sure you subscribe to:
http://blogs.technet.com/deploymentguys
