Best Practices for Windows 7 Deployment - a Microsoft Deployment Toolset Workshop

Workshop General Description

This three-day, Instructor-led program provides Participants with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills to migrate to and deploy Windows 7 to large numbers of computers.

Using interactive procedures and hands-on exercises, Participants learn how to plan for a Vista deployment, how to install and configure all components of the Microsoft Deployment Toolset, how to use the Microsoft toolset, and how to integrate these tools with the Universal Imaging Utility (UIU) to create hardware-independent Image files.

All Modules are based upon Binary's set of  Best Practices using our "Eight-step Process for Deployment Success"  

This module introduces the Program as a whole and provides a roadmap for instruction over the next three days.
The module begins with an overview of the Program, including the Program objectives, and continues with two key topics, which outline the Program Roadmap and introduce BRI's Eight Steps to Deployment Success. This is where Participants learn the training format of the Program and how the training materials are structured. Diagrams are included to clearly show the flow of learning and how each module builds upon previous modules.

Also included in Module 1 is a description of the lab setup, which is the environment in which Participants practice hands-on procedures and complete Labs.
The module then introduces another two key topics - Best Practices and Practical Project Management. Knowing how to use the deployment tools and utilities is only part of a successful Windows 7 deployment. Knowing when to use which tool is just as important and can mean the difference between success and failure.

Module 1 concludes with an introduction to Microsoft's Hyper-V technology, which is the virtualization environment used to simulate multiple computers during the Program.

Module 2 introduces Windows 7, Microsoft's latest operating system. The module begins with a description of Windows 7 and the path by which Microsoft arrived at Windows 7 as a product.

The module continues with a look at features that are new with both Windows Vista and Windows 7, and examines the changes that have been integrated since the release of Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Module 2 also discusses the different editions of Windows 7, as well as summarizing the numerous editions comprising the Vista product line, including their hardware requirements and licensing options.

The module concludes with a discussion entitled "Migrating Business Users to Windows 7", where Trainer and Participants have an opportunity to talk about how Windows 7 might be used in a business environment.  During the module, Participants install Windows 7 on a computer, which will be used as the Master Machine for Imaging later in the course.

Module 3 guides Participants through planning for a Windows 7 deployment. The module begins with a discussion of the importance of planning, emphasizing not only the organization's dependence on functional IT systems, but also the differences between Windows 7 and its predecessors that make a Windows 7 deployment unlike deployment of any previous Windows operating systems except Vista.

The module continues with a step-wise journey through the deployment process - an important conceptual aid to planning a deployment. This section focuses on those issues and tasks that will be the responsibility of hands-on Network Administrators.

The focus then moves to tasks and considerations for more senior personnel in preparing for the Windows 7 migration, with guidance on assembling a project team and expanding upon the best-practice project management methodologies within the Microsoft documentation. Then, with the project team in place, the module addresses the definition of a Project Vision, Scope, and Design document.

Module 4 introduces the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, the Solution Accelerator provided by Microsoft for automating desktop and server deployment. The MDT supports deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, as well as deployment of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Also introduced in this module are the supporting components and toolsets that form the foundation for Microsoft Deployment. Some components are essential for the entire installation process, such as Windows Deployment Services and the Windows Automated Installation Kit, while others perform key tasks, such as creating and modifying an Image.

In preparation for the remainder of the workshop, the Microsoft tools discussed in this module have been pre-installed. Instructions for the installation of each tool are included in the Appendices section of the Manual. This Module gives Participants an understanding of the functionality of each tool and introduces the Deployment Console and Wizards provided therein to prepare and deploy Windows 7 across the network.

Module 5 explores the software inventory and assessment tools provided with Microsoft Deployment. These tools are part of the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT).  During Module 5, Participants collect an inventory of installed applications, test applications for Windows 7 readiness and identify considerations required for Windows 7 Compatibility. This course uses version 5. 5 of the ACT, which includes support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

The Application Compatibility Toolkit includes a number of components, such as the Compatibility Evaluators, the Setup Analysis Tool and the Compatibility Administrator. This module describes how to use all of these components.

Also included in Module 5 is a discussion of the ACT Standard User Analyzer. This component is used to check for permission issues for non-Administrators on applications that are intended to run on Windows 7. Using the Standard User Analyzer, course Participants analyze a software application to determine its readiness for Windows 7 migrations.

Module 6 covers the Hardware Inventory and Assessment tools provided with Microsoft Deployment. Participants learn about two tools for cataloging and analyzing hardware and gain some hands-on experience with these tools during the Module 6 procedures.

The two tools described in this module are the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Solution Accelerator. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor is more suited to smaller networks with low numbers of computers, whereas the Assessment and Planning Toolkit can be used on networks of any size.

In order to successfully capture a Windows Image, certain tools are used. These tools are described and used in this module. Capturing a Master Image means taking a Windows 7 Master Machine, with all of the tools and applications used by everyone in an organization, and creating a Windows .wim Image file that can then be deployed to other computers.

The Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) comprises a number of tools for deploying Windows 7. Some of these have been covered in previous modules. This module describes two of the most important: Windows PE and ImageX.

First, the two components are introduced and put into context with the other tools in the WAIK. Next, both are described in more detail, including typical scenarios for using the tools. Procedures are included to show how the tools work together to build a Windows 7 environment and create an Image ready for further modification.

Module 8 explores how to modify a master Image using the Windows 7 deployment tools. During Module 8, Participants create an unattend. xml file from a .wim Image and import the unattend. xml into the (.wim) Image file using ImageX.

In addition, this module introduces Participants to the Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) and its components. Windows SIM is a tool used to create unattended Windows Vista and Windows 7 Setup answer files from a (.wim) Image file and a catalog (.clg) file.

This module is designed to explore the Microsoft migration tools which assist in the migration of data between two systems. These systems can be two completely separate physical machines, two virtual machines, one machine with two different operating systems (i. e. a dual-boot configuration) or a simple upgrade, where User data and settings must be preserved when moving from the old operating system to the new one. This module examines the purpose, installation and utilization of the tools for Windows 7 migrations.

The two tools covered in this module are:

• Windows Easy Transfer - Used for the migration of files, User account settings and Microsoft application settings (e. g. Outlook Express).
• User State Migration Tool - Used in large deployments to capture desktop settings, User application information, User accounts settings and User specific files on the system.
  

Module 10 introduces the concept of test cases and testing procedures. Participants are introduced to a formal methodology for creating and executing test cases and testing procedures.

This module explains a methodology by which an issue trace matrix can be implemented during the corrective action section and how to finalize the testing process with User Acceptance Testing.

Module 11 explores the methodology used to deploy the customized master Image using the Microsoft deployment tools. In addition, Participants experience the process of restoring the User data and settings captured in Module 9.

As well as revisiting the use of Windows PE and ImageX, this module introduces Windows Deployment Services (WDS), which is a tool that allows any PXE-capable computer to boot over the network, including bare metal computers (i. e. computers with no installed operating system).

Module 12 covers discussion of the tasks which need to be addressed after the migration is complete. This includes the use of Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) and Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), as well as updating the Image with new applications and device drivers.

Any IT Manager will happily state that most of the cost of ownership is incurred during the maintenance phase of a computer's lifecycle. In other words, after installation and deployment. The post-migration activities described in this module are important to minimize both the effort needed from Administrators and the disruption to users.

This module covers the use of a tool called the Universal Imaging Utility (UIU), manufactured by Big Bang LLC.  Used in conjunction with Imaging Technologies, the UIU prepares a computer for the creation of hardware independent Images.

The UIU module provides an overview of the Image creation process, general guidelines for the creation of Universal Images and the steps necessary to create optimized Images with the UIU. Although the UIU may be used with Windows 2000 (SP4) and Windows XP (SP2), this module focuses on the utilization of UIU with Windows Vista and Windows 7.