Designing Automated Installation Tasks
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
To design automated installation tasks for an unattended installation, you must identify:
The installation tasks you want to automate.
The settings you need to configure for the answer file.
Installation tasks are usually described in your component design or your client and server configuration design. For example, your network topology should provide information about the network protocol settings you need to configure during an installation. Likewise, your file server design should provide information about the disk settings you need to configure during an installation.
Answer file settings correspond to the installation tasks you need to perform. For example, if one of your installation tasks involves configuring network adapter settings, you need to identify the answer file sections and entries that configure network adapter settings, and then determine the proper values to assign to the answer file entries.
Identifying Automated Installation Tasks
Use Table 2.3 to determine which installation tasks you can automate by configuring an answer file. Try to automate as many installation tasks as possible with the answer file.
Table 2.3 Tasks You Can Automate with an Unattended Installation Answer File
| Installation Task | Comments |
|---|---|
Hardware installation and configuration |
This includes installing and configuring mass storage controllers that are required at startup, such as SCSI hard disks and Plug and Play devices that are not included on the operating system CD. |
Setup configuration |
This includes partitioning and formatting hard disks prior to setup, and configuring Setup options that are usually configured by end users during GUI mode and text mode stage of Setup. This also includes configuring upgrade options, uninstall options, and other settings that affect the way Setup runs. |
Operating system configuration |
This includes configuring power management, telephony, and display settings, and regional options. This also includes configuring error reporting, Windows file protection, remote assistance, system restore, licensing, and shell settings. |
Internet Explorer configuration |
This includes configuring Internet Explorer options, such as favorites, proxy server settings, branding, and default Home and Search pages. Also includes configuring Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration settings.* |
Networking configuration |
This includes configuring Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), Windows Firewall, and domain membership settings. This also includes installation and configuration of protocols, network adapters, and networking services and components. |
Services configuration |
This includes configuring Internet Information Services (IIS), Certificate Services, Remote Installation Services, Terminal Server, fax service, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) service. This also includes installing and configuring a domain controller by using Active Directory. |
Optional Windows components and services installation |
This includes all Windows components listed in Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel, such as accessories, games, media services, and Indexing Service. |
Software application installation and configuration |
This includes Windows Installer (.msi) packages and staged software. Software installation must run in quiet mode, which means the installation must be fully automated and cannot rely on user interaction. Usually, when you run an installation program in quiet mode, you must provide an answer file. |
Running programs, scripts, and batch files |
Programs, scripts, and batch files must be fully automated and cannot rely on user interaction, which means you must provide an answer file for any programs, scripts, or batch files you are running, and you must be able to run the programs, scripts, or batch files in quiet mode. |
* For more information about Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration settings, see "Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration" in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003. For more information about answer file settings related to Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration, see the Readme.txt file in Deploy.cab. Deploy.cab is in the Support folder on the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD.
Identifying Answer File Settings
Use Table 2.4 to find the specific answer file section that corresponds to each installation task. For a Word document to assist you in recording your answer file settings, see "Answer File Settings Worksheet" (ACIUI_5.doc) on the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit companion CD (or see "Answer File Settings Worksheet" on the Web at https://www.microsoft.com/reskit).
Table 2.4 Installation Tasks and Corresponding Answer File Sections
| To Automate This Task | Configure These Answer File Sections |
|---|---|
Hardware installation and configuration |
[MassStorageDrivers] [OEMBootFiles] [Unattended] |
Setup configuration |
[Data] [GuiUnattended] [Unattended] [Win9xUpg] |
Operating system configuration |
[Display] [LicenseFilePrintData] [PCHealth] [RegionalSettings] [Shell] [SystemFileProtection] [SystemRestore] [TapiLocation] [UserData] |
Internet Explorer configuration |
[Branding] [FavoritesEx] [Proxy] [URL] [Components] [IEHardening] |
Networking configuration |
[Homenet] [Identification] [MS_AppleTalk parameters] [MS_ATMArps parameters] [MS_ATMLANE parameters] [MS_ATMUni parameters] [MS_L2TP parameters] [MS_MSClient parameters] [MS_NetMon parameters] [MS_NWClient parameters] [MS_NWIPX parameters] [MS_NwSapAgent parameters] [MS_PPTP parameters] [MS_Psched parameters] [MS_RAS parameters] [MS_RasSrv parameters] [MS_Server parameters] [MS_TCPIP parameters] [MS_WLBS parameters] [NetAdapters] [NetBindings] [NetClients] [NetOptionalComponents] [NetProtocols] [NetServices] [Networking] |
Services configuration |
[DCInstall] [Fax] [InternetServer] [OsChooser] [RemoteInstall] [SNMP] [TerminalServices] [CertSrv_Client] [CertSrv_Server] |
Optional Windows components and services installation |
[Components] |
Software application installation and configuration |
[GuiRunOnce] [SetupParams] |
Running programs, scripts, and batch files |
[GuiRunOnce] [SetupParams] |
Most answer file settings are optional; however, if you want a fully automated unattended installation, you must configure the following sections and entries in your answer file. If you do not provide values for these entries in your answer file, Setup will prompt the end user (or whoever is performing the unattended installation) for the values:
[GuiUnattended] You must specify values for AdminPassword and TimeZone. The value for AdminPassword cannot begin with an asterisk (*). Using a password that begins with an asterisk can cause the password to be set to a null value.
[Identification] You must specify values for JoinDomain, DomainAdmin, and DomainAdminPassword.
[LicenseFilePrintData] You must specify values for AutoMode and AutoUsers if you are installing a Windows Server 2003 product.
[Networking] If your destination computer requires network connectivity, you must specify values for various network protocol entries.
[Unattended] You must specify values for UnattendMode and TargetPath.
[UserData] You must specify values for FullName and ComputerName.
For more information about specific answer file settings — including procedural and reference information about creating, formatting, and configuring an answer file for unattended installation — see Microsoft Windows Corporate Deployment Tools User’s Guide (Deploy.chm). Deploy.chm is included in the Deploy.cab file in the Support folder on the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD.