Assign applications using roles in MDT

This article will show you how to add applications to a role in the MDT database and then assign that role to a computer. For the purposes of this article, the application we're adding is Adobe Reader XI. In addition to using computer-specific entries in the database, you can use roles in MDT to group settings together.

Create and assign a role entry in the database

  1. On MDT01, using Deployment Workbench, in the MDT Production deployment share, expand Advanced Configuration and then expand Database.

  2. In the Database node, right-click Role, select New, and create a role entry with the following settings:

    1. Role name: Standard PC
    2. Applications / Lite Touch Applications:
    3. Install - Adobe Reader XI - x86

    Screenshot of Install Adobe Reader role entry.

    Figure 12. The Standard PC role with the application added

Associate the role with a computer in the database

After creating the role, you can associate it with one or more computer entries.

  1. Using Deployment Workbench, expand MDT Production, expand Advanced Configuration, expand Database, and select Computers.

  2. In the Computers node, double-click the PC00075 entry, and add the following setting:

    • Roles: Standard PC

    Screenshot of the Standard PC role.

    Figure 13. The Standard PC role added to PC00075 (having ID 1 in the database).

Verify database access in the MDT simulation environment

When the database is populated, you can use the MDT simulation environment to simulate a deployment. The applications aren't installed, but you can see which applications would be installed if you did a full deployment of the computer.

  1. On PC0001, log on as CONTOSO\MDT_BA.

  2. Modify the C:\MDT\CustomSettings.ini file to look like below:

    [Settings]
    Priority=CSettings, CRoles, RApplications, Default
    [Default]
    _SMSTSORGNAME=Contoso
    OSInstall=Y
    UserDataLocation=AUTO
    TimeZoneName=Pacific Standard Time 
    AdminPassword=P@ssw0rd
    JoinDomain=contoso.com
    DomainAdmin=CONTOSO\MDT_JD
    DomainAdminPassword=P@ssw0rd
    MachineObjectOU=OU=Workstations,OU=Computers,OU=Contoso,DC=contoso,DC=com
    SLShare=\\MDT01\Logs$
    ScanStateArgs=/ue:*\* /ui:CONTOSO\*
    USMTMigFiles001=MigApp.xml
    USMTMigFiles002=MigUser.xml
    HideShell=YES
    ApplyGPOPack=NO
    SkipAppsOnUpgrade=NO
    SkipAdminPassword=YES
    SkipProductKey=YES
    SkipComputerName=NO
    SkipDomainMembership=YES
    SkipUserData=NO
    SkipLocaleSelection=YES
    SkipTaskSequence=NO
    SkipTimeZone=YES
    SkipApplications=NO
    SkipBitLocker=YES
    SkipSummary=YES
    SkipCapture=YES
    SkipFinalSummary=NO
    EventService=http://MDT01:9800
    [CSettings]
    SQLServer=MDT01
    Instance=SQLEXPRESS
    Database=MDT
    Netlib=DBNMPNTW
    SQLShare=Logs$
    Table=ComputerSettings
    Parameters=UUID, AssetTag, SerialNumber, MacAddress
    ParameterCondition=OR
    [CRoles]
    SQLServer=MDT01
    Instance=SQLEXPRESS
    Database=MDT
    Netlib=DBNMPNTW
    SQLShare=Logs$
    Table=ComputerRoles
    Parameters=UUID, AssetTag, SerialNumber, MacAddress
    ParameterCondition=OR
    [RApplications]
    SQLServer=MDT01
    Instance=SQLEXPRESS
    Database=MDT
    Netlib=DBNMPNTW
    SQLShare=Logs$
    Table=RoleApplications
    Parameters=Role
    Order=Sequence
    
  3. Using an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt (run as Administrator), run the following commands. Press Enter after each command:

    Set-Location C:\MDT
    .\Gather.ps1
    
    

    Screenshot of Configuration Manager Trace Log Tool.

    Figure 14. ZTIGather.log displaying the application GUID belonging to the Adobe Reader XI application that would have been installed if you deployed this machine.