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Appendix B: Configuring the Distribution Share

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Using Deployment Workbench, the Computer Imaging System feature team can configure the distribution share in the following ways:

  • Add, remove, and configure operating systems.

  • Add, remove, and configure applications.

  • Add, remove, and configure operating system packages, including updates and language packs.

  • Add, remove, and configure out-of-box device drivers.

When the Computer Imaging System feature team adds operating systems, applications, operating system packages, and out-of-box device drivers to the distribution share, the team is storing the source files in the distribution share folder specified during BDD 2007 installation. The default is D:\Distribution, where D is the volume with the most available space. The team associates these stored items with builds later in the configuration process. In the distribution share’s Control folder, Deployment Workbench stores metadata about operating systems, applications, operating system packages, and out-of-box device drivers in the following files:

  • Applications.xml. Contains metadata about applications in the distribution share

  • Drivers.xml. Contains metadata about device drivers in the distribution share

  • OperatingSystems.xml. Contains metadata about operating systems in the distribution share

  • Packages.xml. Contains metadata about operating system packages in the distribution share

On This Page

Operating Systems Operating Systems
Applications Applications
Packages Packages
Out-of-Box Drivers Out-of-Box Drivers

Operating Systems

Complete the following steps to add an operating system (Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista) to the distribution share:

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, right-click Operating Systems, and then click New to start the New OS Wizard.

    Note   Operating Systems resides beneath Distribution Share.

  2. On the Choose the type of operating system to add page, shown in Figure 6, select Full set of source files, and then click Next.

    This option copies the entire set of operating system source files from the distribution media or folder containing the distribution media. Optionally, the Computer Imaging System feature team can add operating system images from a specific Windows DS server by clicking Windows Deployment Services images. For more information, see “Adding Images from Windows DS” later in this appendix. Team members can also click Custom image file to add a custom image, created by using the Windows Deployment Wizard. For more information about creating a custom image, see “Appendix F: Capturing a LTI Image” later in this guide.

    Figure 6. Choosing the type of operating system image to add

    Figure 6. Choosing the type of operating system image to add

  3. On the Select the location of the operating system files page, type the path containing the operating system source files to be added to the distribution share, and then click Next.

    If the Computer Imaging System feature team has staged the operating system files on the local hard disk, team members can optionally select Move the files to the distribution share instead of copying them to speed the process.

  4. On the Specify the destination page, type the name of the operating system folder to create in the distribution share, and then click Copy.

    Accept the default name, which Deployment Workbench derives from the source files, or use a name that describes the operating system version and edition. For example, use Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Vista Business to distinguish between the different editions of Windows Vista. Deployment Workbench uses this name to create a folder for the operating system in the distribution share’s Operating Systems folder.

This copy process can take several minutes to finish.

After adding an operating system to the distribution share, it appears in the details pane of Operating Systems. Also, the operating system appears in the distribution share in Operating Systems\subfolder, where subfolder is the destination specified when adding the operating system. Table 9 describes additional tasks the Computer Imaging System feature team can perform on operating systems that have been added to the distribution share.

Table 9. Operating Systems Tasks

To

Complete these steps

Remove an operating system

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Operating Systems.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the operating system to be removed, and then click Delete.

    Note   When an operating system is deleted from Deployment Workbench, it is also removed from the Operating Systems folder in the distribution share. In other words, removing an operating system from Deployment Workbench also removes it from the file system.

Rename an operating system

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Operating Systems.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the operating system to be renamed, and then click Properties to display the operating system Properties dialog box, where operating system is the current name of the system to be renamed.

  3. In the Operating system name box, type a new name for the operating system, and then click OK.

Adding Images from Windows DS

BDD 2007 can deploy Windows Vista images added to a Windows DS server. It does not copy these images to the BDD 2007 distribution share; instead, it deploys them directly from the Windows DS share.

Complete the following steps to add Windows Vista images to the distribution share from a Windows DS server:

  1. Copy the following files from the \sources directory of the Windows Vista media to the folder C:\Program Files\BDD 2007\bin:

    • Wdsclientapi.dll

    • Wdscsl.dll

    • Wdsimage.dll

  2. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, right-click Operating Systems, and then click New to start the New OS Wizard.

    Note   Operating Systems resides beneath Distribution Share.

  3. On the Choose the type of operating system to add page, select Windows Deployment Services images, and then click Next to add an image from a Windows DS server to the distribution share.

  4. On the Select the Windows Deployment Services server page, type the name of the Windows DS server from which to add the operating system images, and then click Next.

  5. For each build using a Windows DS image as an operating system source, associate a catalog file with the image: In the Builds item, right-click the build, click Properties, and then choose a catalog file in the Catalog box.

The New OS Wizard makes all the operating system installation images it finds on the Windows DS server available to BDD 2007. It does not copy the source files from the Windows DS server to the distribution share, however. BDD 2007 will continue to use the sources files from their original location. The images appear in the details pane of Operating Systems.

Note When adding images from Windows DS to a BDD 2007 deployment server running an x64 edition of Windows, install update 925404. This update is available through PSS. Windows Server 2003 R2 also includes it.

Applications

Complete the following steps to add an application to the distribution share:

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, right-click Applications, and then click New to start the New Application Wizard.

    Note   Applications resides beneath Distribution Share.

  2. On the Specify the type of application to add page, shown in Figure 7, perform one of the following actions, and then click Next:

    • Select Application with source files to copy the application source files to the distribution share. During deployment, BDD 2007 installs the application from source files it copied to the distribution share.

    • Select Application without source files or elsewhere on the network. Choosing this option does not copy the application source files to the distribution share. During deployment, BDD 2007 installs the application from another location on the network. Also, choose this option to run a command that requires no application source files.

      SE_CompImag07.gif

      Figure 7. The New Application Wizard

  3. On the Specify the details for this application page, provide the following information about the application, and then click Next:

    • In the Publisher box, type the name of the application’s publisher.

    • In the Application Name box, type the name of the application.

    • In the Version box, type a version label for the application.

    • In the Languages box, optionally type the languages that the application supports.

    • In the Platforms list, choose the platforms that the application supports.

  4. On the Select the location of the application files page, type the path of the folder containing the application to be added, and then click Next.

    If the Computer Imaging System feature team chooses to copy the application source files to the distribution share, Deployment Workbench copies everything in this folder to the distribution share; otherwise, it adds this path to the application’s metadata as the application’s installation path. If the operating system files are staged on the local hard disk, the team can optionally select Move the files to the distribution share instead of copying them to quickly move them to the distribution share.

  5. On the Specify the destination page, type the name of the folder to create for the application within the distribution share, and then click Next.

    Note   The default value is the publisher, application name, and version label concatenated.

    Caution When adding applications to the distribution share by using Deployment Workbench, ensure that every application has a unique full name. Otherwise, users will see multiple applications with the same name, each of which installs a different application, during a lite touch installation.

  6. On the Specify installation details page, shown in Figure 8, type the command to use to install the application silently, and then click Add.

    For example, type msiexec /qb /i program.msi. The command is relative to the working directory specified in the Working directory box.

    SE_CompImag08.gif

    Figure 8. The New Application Wizard

After adding an application to the distribution share, it appears in the Applications details pane. Also, it appears in the distribution share in Applications\subfolder, where subfolder is the destination specified when adding the application. Table 10 describes additional tasks that can be performed on applications added to the distribution share.

Table 10. Applications Tasks

To

Complete these steps

Remove an application

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Applications.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the application to be removed, and then click Delete.

    Note   The Computer Imaging System feature team cannot remove applications on which other applications have installation dependencies.

    Note   When an application is deleted from Deployment Workbench, it is also removed from the Applications folder in the distribution share. In other words, removing an application from Deployment Workbench also removes it from the file system.

Edit an application’s general information

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Applications.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the application to be edited, and then click Properties.

  3. On the General tab, edit the following items as necessary, and then click OK:

    • Full name

    • Name

    • Version

    • Publisher

    • Platform

    • Language

    • Quiet install command

    • Working directory

    • Uninstall registry key name

    Note   BDD 2007 uses the uninstall registry key name to determine whether an application is already installed on the destination computer. This is a subkey in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. If BDD 2007 detects the presence of this key, it assumes that the application is already installed and skips the installation of that application and any dependencies.

Edit an application’s dependencies

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Applications.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the application to be edited, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Dependencies tab, and then complete one of the following tasks:

    • To add an application to the Dependencies list, click Add, and then select an application. The Deployment Workbench displays only those applications that have already been added to the distribution share.

    • To remove an application from the Dependencies list, select an application from the list, and then click Remove.

    • To reorder the applications in the Dependencies list, select an application from the list, and then click Up or Down. BDD 2007 installs the dependent applications in the order specified in the Dependencies list.

Enable or disable an application

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Applications.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the application to be enabled or disabled, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the General tab, complete one of the following tasks, and then click OK:

    • Select the Enable this application check box to enable the installation of the selected application.

    • Clear the Enable this application check box to disable installation of the selected application.

    Tip   If the team adds an application that it intends to install during the task sequence, disable the application by clear the Enable this application check box. The application will still install during the task sequence, but the user will not see it in the applications list.

Restart the computer after installing an application

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Applications.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the application for which the Windows Deployment Wizard must restart the computer after installation, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the General tab, select the Reboot the computer after installing this application check box, and then click OK.

    Note   Selecting this check box causes the Windows Deployment Wizard to restart the computer after installing the application and then continue with the next step in the task sequence.

    Caution   Do not allow the application to restart the computer. BDD 2007 must control restarts, or the task sequence will fail. For example, use REBOOT=REALLYSUPPRESS to prevent some Windows Installer–based applications from restarting.

Packages

Complete the following steps to add operating system packages, including language packs and updates, to the distribution share:

  1. In Deployment Workbench, right-click OS Packages, and then click New to start the New Package Wizard.

    Note   OS Packages resides beneath Distribution Share.

  2. On the Select the location of the package files page, type the path containing the package files to be added to the distribution share, and then click Add.

    Deployment Workbench adds all the packages it finds in the folder and all its subfolders.

After adding packages to the distribution share, they appear in the OS Packages details pane. Also, the packages appear in the distribution share in the Packages folder. Table 11 describes additional tasks that Computer Imaging System feature team members can perform on packages that they have added to the distribution share.

Table 11. Packages Tasks

To

Complete these steps

Remove a package

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click OS Packages.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the package to be removed, and then click Delete.

    Note   When a package is deleted from Deployment Workbench, it is also removed from the Packages folder in the distribution share. In other words, removing a package from Deployment Workbench also removes it from the file system.

View a package’s general information

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click OS Packages.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the package to view, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the General tab, view the following properties, and then click OK:

    • Package name

    • Type

    • Processor architecture

    • Language

    • Public key token

    • Version

    • Product name

    • Product version

    • Package path

Enable or disable a package

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click OS Packages.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the package to be enabled or disabled, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the General tab, complete one of the following tasks, and then click OK:

    • Select the Enable (approve) this package check box to enable installation of the selected package.

    • Clear the Enable (approve) this package check box to disable installation of the selected package.

Out-of-Box Drivers

Complete the following steps to add device drivers to the distribution share:

  1. In Deployment Workbench, right-click Out-of-Box Drivers, and then click New to start the New Driver Wizard.

    Note   Out-of-Box Drivers resides beneath Distribution Share.

  2. On the Select the location of the driver files page, type the path containing the device drivers to be added to the distribution share, and then click Add.

    Deployment Workbench adds all the device drivers it finds in the folder and its subfolders.

After adding device drivers to the distribution share, they appear in the Out-of-Box Drivers details pane. Also, the device drivers appear in the distribution share in the Out-of-Box Drivers folder. Table 12 describes additional tasks Computer Imaging System feature team members can perform on device drivers that have been added to the distribution share.

Table 12. Out-of-Box Drivers Tasks

To

Complete these steps

Remove a device driver

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Out-of-Box Drivers.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the device driver to be removed, and then click Delete.

    Note   When a device driver is deleted from Deployment Workbench, it is also removed from the Out-of-Box Drivers folder in the distribution share. In other words, removing a device driver from Deployment Workbench also removes it from the file system.

View a device driver’s general information

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Out-of-Box Drivers.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the device driver to view, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the General tab, view the following properties, and then click OK:

    • Driver name

    • Manufacturer

    • Version

    • Driver type (class)

    • INF path

    • Platforms

    • Supported OS versions

    • Supported PnP IDs

Enable or disable a device driver

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Out-of-Box Drivers.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the device driver to be enabled or disabled, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the General tab, complete one of the following tasks, and then click OK:

    • Select the Enable this driver check box to enable installation of the selected device driver.

    • Clear the Enable this driver check box to disable installation of the selected device driver.

Change a device driver’s group assignments

  1. In the Deployment Workbench console tree, click Out-of-Box Drivers.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the device driver to edit, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Groups tab, select the device drivers group to include the device driver, and then click OK.

    Note   Associate device driver groups with individual builds. When associating a device driver group with a build, the build will include only the device drivers in that group. For more information, see “Appendix C: Creating Builds.”

    Note   During deployment, choose which device driver groups to include in the installation by using properties. For more information about using device driver groups, see the Configuration Reference.

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