"Microsoft Tools for Imaging"

                                 Program Content/Topics

Workshop General Description

Binary Research International's Microsoft Tools for Imaging Workshop is a two and one half-day, Trainer-led, lab-based program.  It provides Participants with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to utilize the tools that are provided with Windows 7 to create and deploy Images.

Using interactive procedures and hands-on exercises, Participants learn how install and configure the Windows 7 tools and utilities provided by Microsoft. In addition, Participants learn how to use the tools to CAPTURE and DEPLOY Images, which tools to use in a given situation.

Who should Attend

In particular, this workshop is aimed at those people who capture and deploy Windows 7 Images. Participants may include Network Admins, Project Managers for Windows 7 implementations, business Systems Administrators, business analysts, and IT Project Managers. Others who would benefit are systems professionals and consultants tasked with the installation, configuration and operational management of Windows 7 operating systems and Images within corporate, government or academic environments.

All Modules are based upon Binary's set of  Best Practices using our "Eight-step Process for Deployment Success"  

This module introduces the Program as a whole and provides a roadmap for instruction over the next 2.5 days. The module begins with an overview of the Program, including the Program objectives, and continues with two key topics, which outline the Program Roadmap and introduce BRI's Eight Steps to Deployment Success. This is where Participants learn the training format of the Program and how the training materials are structured. Diagrams are included to clearly show the flow of learning and how each module builds upon previous modules.

Also included in Module 1 is a description of the lab setup, which is the environment in which Participants practice hands-on procedures and complete Labs.
The module then introduces another two key topics - Best Practices and Practical Project Management. Knowing how to use the deployment tools and utilities is only part of a successful Windows 7 deployment. Knowing when to use which tool is just as important and can mean the difference between success and failure.

Module 1 concludes with an introduction to Microsoft's Hyper-V technology, which is the virtualization environment used to simulate multiple computers during the Program.

Module 2 introduces all of the Microsoft tools that will be covered during the workshop and includes a demonstration of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT 2010) using the Wizards.

Specifically, this module explains the functionality and use of:

• Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
• Windows Deployment Services (WDS), 
• WAIK which encompasses ImageX, WInPE, Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM), User State Migration Tool (USMT) and Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM).

These tools are then used during procedures in later modules.

Module 3 shows Participants how to create a Master Image of a Windows 7 computer for deployment.  During this module, Participants learn how to capture a Windows Imaging format (WIM) file using both MDT 2010 and ImageX.

The Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) comprises a number of tools for deploying Windows 7.  Some of these were introduced in the previous module.  This module describes two of the most important: Windows PE and ImageX.

Procedures are included to show how the tools work together to build a Windows 7 environment and create an Image ready for further modification.

Module 4 covers the Windows System Image Manager (SIM) and the WIM editing capabilities of ImageX. 

It explores how to modify a master Image using the Windows 7 deployment tools.  During this module, Participants create an unattend.xml file from a .wim Image and import the unattend.xml into the .wim Image file using ImageX.

In addition, this module introduces Participants to the Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) and its components.  Windows SIM is a tool used to create unattended Windows Vista and Windows 7 Setup answer files from a .wim Image file and a catalog (.clg) file.

Module 5 explores the tools provided to capture and migrate User data and settings from legacy computers (i.e. computers running older versions of Windows).

The two tools covered in this module are:

• XML Notepad 2007 - a utility for creating and modifying XML files.
• User State Migration Tool (USMT) - Used in large deployments to capture desktop settings, User application information, User accounts settings and User specific files on the system.

Also described in this module is Windows Easy Transfer, which is used for the migration of files, User account settings and Microsoft application settings (e.g. Outlook Express) in small environments (i.e. less than 25 computers).

Module 6 explores the methodology used to deploy the customized master Image using the Microsoft deployment tools.  In addition, Participants experience the process of restoring the User data and settings captured in Module 5.

As well as revisiting the use of Windows PE and ImageX, this module introduces Windows Deployment Services (WDS), which is a tool that allows any PXE-capable computer to boot over the network, including bare-metal computers (i.e. computers with no installed operating system).

Module 7:  POST-MIGRATION AND MAINTENANCE

Module 7 discusses the tasks which need to be addressed after the migration is complete.  This includes the use of Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) and Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), as well as updating the Image with new applications and device drivers.

Any IT Manager will happily state that most of the cost of ownership is incurred during the maintenance phase of a computer's lifecycle.  In other words, after installation and deployment.  The post-migration activities described in this module are important to minimize both the effort needed from Administrators and the disruption to users.