First, virtual machines provide the option to create hardware-neutral images which can be applied anywhere, regardless of what is actually in the target computer. Virtual machine software for the creation workspace. Windows and software install media ( obviously) This piece will discuss creating a Windows install for distribution. Many shops do not operate that way, and have some level of interaction required during the imaging process. This is offered by Microsoft System Center (SCCM) along with the Deployment Toolkit (MDT). The ideal target being what Microsoft calls “zero-touch” deployments that require no interaction on the target computer whatsoever. From a few PCs, to hundreds, the requirements were the same, to deploy the same configuration with as little, repetitive work as possible. 8.x?), desired apps for the image (Office, PDF viewer, web browsers, plugins), virtual machine software (VMware Workstation, Microsoft Hyper-V, or Oracle Virtual Box), and image creation and deployment software (ImageX.exe, MDT, SCCM).Īlmost every place I have ever worked, IT had or needed a method to clone and deploy a specific Windows configuration and application set.
Requirements: Windows install media (7 or 10.