Automating Deployment to a Specific Computer

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In this scenario, you are automating the deployment to a specific target computer. The computer can be identified by using the AssetTag, universally unique identifier (UUID), SerialNumber, or MACAddress properties associated with the computer. For example, Woodgrove Bank uses the MAC address of the primary network adapter of each computer to uniquely identify each computer.

Although you can configure the computer’s database queries directly in the CustomSettings.ini file, the recommended method is to perform the customization by using Deployment Workbench. Doing so helps to eliminate configuration errors and reduce the effort required to maintain the configuration.

To automate your deployment to a specific computer

  1. Select the method for uniquely identifying computers in your organization.

  2. Create the computers and computers’ settings by using Deployment Workbench.

  3. Create the specific roles, specific locations, or specific makes and models of computers by using Deployment Workbench.

  4. Configure CustomSettings.ini to perform the appropriate database queries by using Deployment Workbench.

On This Page

Selecting the Method for Identifying Computers Selecting the Method for Identifying Computers
Creating the Computer Settings Creating the Computer Settings
Creating Other Items Creating Other Items
Configuring CustomSettings.ini Configuring CustomSettings.ini

Selecting the Method for Identifying Computers

First, select the method for uniquely identifying the computers in your organization. You can select any combinations of methods for doing so. The predefined properties for uniquely identifying a target computer include the AssetTag, UUID, SerialNumber, and MACAddress properties.

After creating a computer, specify configuration settings for its properties. These configuration settings are stored in the database and are retrieved by ZTIGather.wsf. In addition to querying the computers directly by using the AssetTag, UUID, SerialNumber, or MACAddress properties, you can associate a computer with:

  • A group of computers that performs a specific role by using the Role property. To do so, create a new role item in the Roles node in Deployment Workbench. Then add the role to the target computer on the Roles tab on the properties dialog box of a computer in the Computers node in Deployment Workbench.

  • A group of computers within a location by using the Location or DefaultGateway properties. To do so, create a new location item in the Locations node in Deployment Workbench.

  • A group of computers that are a specific make and model by using the Make and Model properties. To do so, create a new make and model item in the Make and Model node in Deployment Workbench.

After you identify the computers, identify the configuration settings you want to associate with them. Deployment Workbench allows you to associate the following properties with a computer (based on the tabs in the user interface, or UI):

  • Details. Configure specific properties to the target computer.

  • Applications. Configure the applications (defined in Deployment Workbench) to be deployed to the target computer.

  • Packages. Configure the packages (defined in Deployment Workbench) to be deployed to the target computer.

  • Roles. Configure the roles (defined in Deployment Workbench) to be associated with the target computer.

  • Administrators. Configure the user accounts to be made members of the local Administrators group on the target computer.

Creating the Computer Settings

After you select the method for identifying the computers and the configuration settings for each computer, you can create the computers and computer settings by using Deployment Workbench.

Perform the following steps for each computer you identified in the previous section:

  1. Start Deployment Workbench.

  2. In the console tree, expand Deploy, expand Database, and then click Computers.

  3. In the console tree, right-click Computers, and then click New.

  4. In the Properties dialog box, on the Identity tab, configure the information listed in Table 4. You can provide any combination of this information; however, you must configure the Description of at least one of the other boxes (Asset tag, UUID, Serial number, or MAC address).

    Table 4. Information to Complete Identity Tab for a New Computers Item

    In this box

    Type

    Description

    The user-friendly description of the computer

    Asset tag

    The asset tag or inventory control tag assigned to the computer

    UUID

    The UUID assigned to the target computer

    Serial number

    The serial number assigned to the target computer

    MAC address

    The MAC address assigned to the target computer

    The Asset tag, UUID, Serial number, and MAC address boxes correspond to the AssetTag, UUID, SerialNumber, and MACAddress properties. For more information on the values for asset tag, UUID, serial number, and MAC address, see the AssetTag, UUID, SerialNumber, and MACAddress properties in Configuration Reference.

  5. Click the Details tab and then configure the appropriate property values that you identified earlier in the process.

  6. Click the Applications tab and then configure the applications to install and the order of the application installations.

  7. Click the Packages tab and then configure the packages to install and the order of the package installations.

  8. Click the Roles tab and then configure the roles that you wish to associate with the computer.

  9. Click the Administrators tab, configure the accounts to be made members of the local Administrators group on the target computers, and then click OK.

Creating Other Items

After you have created the computers and computer settings, you can optionally create other items (including roles to be assigned to the computers, locations in which the computers reside, or the specific make and model of the computers).

Perform the following steps for each association you want to make:

  1. Start Deployment Workbench.

  2. In the console tree, expand Deploy, expand Database, right-click node, and then click new (where node is the Roles, Locations, or Make and Model nodes).

  3. In the Properties dialog box, on the Identity tab, configure the identity values that you identified for each of the items (where the items are Roles, Locations, or Make and Model).

  4. Click the Details tab and then configure the appropriate property values that you identified earlier in the process.

  5. Click the Applications tab and then configure the applications to install and the order of the application installations.

  6. Click the Packages tab and then configure the packages to install and the order of the package installations.

  7. Click the Administrators tab, configure the accounts to be made members of the local Administrators group on the target computers, and then click OK.

Configuring CustomSettings.ini

Next, configure CustomSettings.ini to perform the appropriate database queries and set the properties that you configured for each role.

Perform the following steps for each deployment point that you want to configure:

  1. Start Deployment Workbench.

  2. In the console tree, expand Deploy and click Deployment Points.

  3. In the details pane, right-click deployment_point and then click Configure DB (where deployment_point is the name of the deployment point you wish to configure).

    The Configure DB Wizard starts.

  4. Complete the Configure DB Wizard by using the information in Table 5.

    Table 5. Completing the Configure DB Wizard for Computers Only

    On this wizard page

    Purpose

    Select computer query options.

    If you associated the role with a specific computer, select the Query for computer-specific settings box.

    Select or clear other check boxes as appropriate. If you are not using other computer query options, clear the other check boxes.

    Select role query options.

    If you configured role-specific settings that you want to associate with the computers, select the Query for role-specific settings check box.

    If you configured applications for any of the roles that you want to associate with the computers, select the Query for applications to be installed for this role check box.

    If you configured packages for any of the roles that you want to associate with the computers, select the Query for SMS packages to be installed for this role check box.

    If you configured accounts to be made members of the local Administrators group on the target computers for any of the roles that you want to associate with the computers, select the Query for administrators to be assigned for this role check box.

    Ensure that you clear any check boxes that you are not using.

    Select location query options.

    If you defined any locations where the target computers reside, select or clear the appropriate check boxes. If you are not using location-related queries, clear all the check boxes.

    Select make and model query options.

    If you defined any make or model items that are associated with the target computers, select or clear the appropriate check boxes. If you are not using make and model–related queries, clear all the check boxes.

    Note   Each query check box that you select results in the ZTIGather.wsf script performing a corresponding database query and logging. Selecting unnecessary check boxes can increase the time required to deploy to a target computer.

Listing 6 illustrates the CustomSettings.ini file after completing the Configure DB Wizard and selecting only the options specified in Table 5.

Listing 6. CustomSettings.ini file After Completing the Configure DB Wizard

[Settings]
Priority=ComputerSettings, Default
Properties=MyCustomProperty
[Default]
OSInstall=Y
ScanStateArgs=/v:5 /o /c
LoadStateArgs=/v:5 /c /lac
[ComputerSettings]
SQLServer=W2K3-SP1
Instance=
Database=DWDB
Netlib=DBNMPNTW
SQLShare=
Table=ComputerSettings
Parameters=UUID, AssetTag, SerialNumber, MacAddress
ParameterCondition=OR

Note   The [Default] section should typically be at the end of the list of sections in the Priority property.

The Configure DB Wizard configures the Priority property and creates the corresponding section in CustomSettings.ini. Table 6 lists the sections created and a brief description of purpose for each section.

Table 6. Sections Listed in Listing 6 and their Purpose

Section

Purpose

 
ComputerSettings

Queries the ComputerSettings view to identify a computer based on any combination of the UUID, AssetTag, SerialNumber, or MacAddress properties.

For more information on the view and tables in the database managed by Deployment Workbench, see “Tables and Views in the Deployment Workbench Database” in Configuration Reference.

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