Desktop Deployment for Midsize Businesses

  • Article

Business Desktop Deployment (BDD), or deploying Microsoft Windows, Office, and other applications to client computers, is a vital task for organizations of all sizes. You can deploy desktops using several methods depending on the number of client systems involved, available infrastructure, and skill level of IT staff. In very small organizations, BDD often means a hands-on, CD-based installation or purchase of systems with OEM versions of the operating system and applications already installed. In larger organizations, more advanced deployment processes and technologies can simplify and automate deployment; provide for remote configuration and management; and streamline disaster recovery.

The methods and tools you choose depend on your current IT environment. Environments for BDD fall into three primary categories: limited, basic, and well-managed. Table 1 identifies components and characteristics of each environment.

Table 1. Business Desktop Scenarios

 

Limited Management

Basic Management

Well-Managed

Number of PCs

Fewer than 200

50 to 250

250 or more

Number of IT Professionals

1-2

1-5

5 or more

Licensing Types

OEM, Academic Open License, Retail

OEM, Academic Open License, Open License, Software Assurance

Academic Open License, Open License, Select License, Enterprise Agreement, Volume License

Environment

Heterogeneous

Homogenous / Heterogeneous

Homogenous

Desktop Deployment Approach

Pre-installed OEM; CD-or-network share-based install by IT professional

CD-based install; automated deployment with Remote Installation Services (RIS), logon scripts, and Group Policy

Automated deployment with RIS, Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), Group Policy

Uses Standardized Images

No

Maintains multiple images

Yes

Requires Extra Infrastructure

No

Active Directory

Yes

Business Desktop Deployment involves several key aspects, from planning to post-deployment management. The following sections describe these aspects for each target infrastructure.

Limited Management Infrastructure

The following list describes issues and solutions for desktop deployment for organizations with limited management infrastructure.

  • Planning and Assessment. A successful deployment requires inventorying existing target client systems, operating systems, and applications and identifying which systems and applications will be upgraded. In smaller environments, custom Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts and scripts included in the Windows Resource Kits can be used to inventory systems and applications.

  • Application Compatibility. Microsoft Windows XP and Office 2003 provide full compatibility with one another, but many deployment scenarios involve additional applications and older versions. Application compatibility analysis and testing help ensure existing applications will run on the new desktops and that any compatibility issues are remediated. For limited management environments, the Windows XP Help and Support Center and Program Compatibility Wizard (included with Windows XP) and the Windows Catalog are key compatibility resources. Older Windows applications can be configured with compatibility settings to enable them to run under Windows XP through the Compatibility tab page of the application's properties.

    See the following links for additional resources and solutions:

    Resolving Application Compatibility Issues with Compatibility Administrator
    Program Compatibility Wizard
    Windows Catalog
    Windows XP Upgrade Advisor

  • User State Migration. Desktop deployment includes migrating user documents, files, application settings, and other data to target systems. The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP is a great method for limited management environments.

    See the following links for additional resources and solutions:

    User State Migration: Overview
    User State Migration Tool

  • Deployment and Installation. In limited management environments, the operating system and applications are often preinstalled on purchased systems. Additional deployment is generally through manual, CD-based installation.

    See the following links for additional resources and solutions:

    Deploying a Simple Managed Environment
    Windows Deployment and Resource Kits

  • Supplemental Applications. The Windows XP and Office 2003 combination form the core client tools for many organizations, but often needs to be supplemented with other applications. Manual installation is often used in limited management environments to install these supplemental applications.

  • Security and Patching. It's important to keep up-to-date with operating system and application updates. The Microsoft Update Web site, which combines Windows and Office updates, and Automatic Updates help limited management environments stay current.

    See the following links for additional resources and solutions:

    Windows XP Professional Resource Kit Documentation
    Software Update Services
    Using Group Policy to Deploy Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Basic Management Infrastructure

The following list describes issues and solutions for desktop deployment for organizations with a basic management infrastructure.

Well-Managed Infrastructure

Well-managed environments typically include the infrastructure needed to take advantaged of additional deployment options, and generally need to automate deployment as much as possible. The tools and resources provided in the Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment Enterprise Edition provide an excellent framework for fully automated, zero-touch deployment. Well-managed environments should consider the Solution Accelerator for BDD to be the primary resource and toolset for desktop deployment. Visit the Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment Web site for details on the Standard and Enterprise Editions and to download the Edition that best suits your organization's needs.

Summary

The Solution Accelerator for BDD includes or supplements many of the tools and resources described above. This free download includes best practices for deployment, planning documents and resources and tools for compatibility testing, image management, and deployment. The included tools and resources can be used in any size environment, but are particularly well suited to well-managed environments. If your organization IT environment matches this category, you'll find the Solution Accelerator for BDD to be your key resource for automating and simplifying desktop deployment.

Whatever your organization's size or deployment infrastructure, the Solution Accelerator for BDD Standard Edition will help you deploy desktops more quickly and with less effort and error than manual or semi-automated methods. Streamlining desktop deployment will get updates into users' hands more quickly, making them more productive. Simplifying deployment also reduces IT overhead so IT team members can concentrate on other critical issues. Ultimately, improving your deployment methods will help cut costs and drive revenue. You'll find the requirements for Standard Edition at the Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment Web site, where you can also download both Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition for evaluation and testing.