using SCCM 2012 RC in a LAB - Part 16. Integrating MDT with Configuration Manager 2012

[anyweb]

In Part 1 of this series we got our AD and SCCM servers ready, and then we installed System Center 2012 Configuration Manager as a standalone Primary site. In Part 2 we configured the SCCM server further by adding some Windows Server roles necessary for the following Configuration Manager 2012 functionality, Software Update Point (SUP) and Operating System Deployment. In Part 3 we configured the server further by Enabling Discovery methods and creating Boundary's and Boundary Groups. In Part 4 we configured Client Settings, Added roles and Distributed the Configmgr Client to our Computers within the LAB, then in Part 5 we enabled the Endpoint Protection Role and configured Endpoint Protection settings and targeted a collection called All Windows 7 Computers with these settings and policies.

In Part 6 we configured our SUP further to Deploy software updates to our All Windows 7 Computers and Build Windows 7 X64 collections. In Part 7 we used the Build and Capture process to create our Base Windows 7 X64 wim image. In Part 8 we created a USMT 4 package to migrate the users data using hardlinking and then we imported the captured image into ConfigMgr and created a Deploy Windows 7 X64 task sequence. We created a Deploy Windows 7 X64 Collection and set some User Device Affinity collection variables.

In Part 9 we created an Application, and created a deployment type for that application to only install if the Primary User was True for that device (User Device Affinity), we then copied our Task Sequence (duplicated it), deployed the new Task Sequence, added a computer to the new collection and then PXE booted the computer to the Deployment Menu. In Part 10 we monitored the Deployment process in a lot of detail to how UDA sent state messages and we verified that our application installed on the users Primary Device, in addition we modified our collection variables, and added a prestart command to our boot image to prompt for the SMSTSUdaUsers. In Part 11 we setup the Reporting Services Point Role and verified that reporting was working.

In Part 12 we demonstrated a new feature in ConfigMgr which allows us to Patch operating system WIM images using Offline Servicing. This means that you can apply Windows Updates by using Component-Based Servicing (CBS) to update the your previously captured WIM images. In Part 13 we looked at how Role Based Administration is used within ConfigMgr and we created a new custom role to allow a user (or users within a Security Group) to view Software Update Reports. This is useful because you will probably want one team to take care of configuring and deploying software updates, and to grant another (Management etc) the capability of reviewing Compliance Reports. In Part 14 we performed a side-by-side migration from Configuration Manager 2007.

In Part 15, we deployed Windows 8 Consumer Preview to see if it was possible, and indeed it was (it's not supported by Microsoft however). Now we will integrate the recently released MDT 2012 RC1 with Configuration Manager to avail of new features (features and enhancements which can help to make large-scale desktop and server deployments smoother than ever) that it provides through MDT Integration. Having MDT integrated with ConfigMgr will give you lots of benefits and abilities so I would definitely recommend you integrate it. Note that in order to download this build of MDT you have to be registered with the MDT program on Connect.

Support for Configuration Manager 2012 RC2: This update provides support for Configuration Manager 2012 RC2 releases. MDT 2012 fully leverages the capabilities provided by Configuration Manager 2012 for OS deployment. The latest version of MDT offers new User-Driven Installation components and extensibility for Configuration Manager 2007 and 2012. Users now also have the ability to migrate MDT 2012 task sequences from Configuration Manager 2007 to Configuration Manager 2012.

Step 1. Download MDT 2013 and Install it.
Note: Perform the following on the ConfigMgr 2012 server as SMSadmin

MDT 2013 is available from the following location. As we are using Server 2008 R2 (64bit OS) we will download and install the 64 bit version of the software (MicrosoftDeploymentToolkit2013_x64.msi).

 

If your ConfigMgr console is open, close it and then install the MSI by right clicking on the downloaded MSI file and choose Install.



when the open file security window appears choose Run



the Welcome to MDT wizard appears, click next



accept the EULA if you want to continue and click next



and next you get to choose where you want to isntall MDT, we will install it on D:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\ so set your path accordingly



click next, and then click Install



answer yes to the UAC prompt



and finally it's installed by clicking Finish.




Step 2. Integrating MDT with Configuration Manager
Note: Perform the following on the ConfigMgr 2012 server as SMSadmin

Now that you have installed MDT you want to integrate it (Configure ConfigMgr Integration) with ConfigMgr. We do this to gain access to tools and features that MDT provides from within the ConfigMgr console.

In the start menu, locate the newly installed Microsoft Deployment Toolkit application and expand it, locate the Configure ConfigMgr Integration shortcut and right click, choose Run as Administrator.



click yes when prompted by UAC



review the pre-populated options and click next



and review the Confirmation, make sure there are no issues reported otherwise your MDT Integration has failed




Step 3. Create a MDT Task Sequence in ConfigMgr
Note: Perform the following on the ConfigMgr 2012 server as SMSadmin

We need the following MDT components to be created:

 

• MDT Boot image
• MDT Toolkit Files
• MDT Settings

To create these MDT components so that we can use them later on, we run a wizard by creating a MDT Task Sequence. The wizard will guide you through creating these packages. The MDT boot image (for example) gives you extra abilities over the standard ConfigMgr boot image such as the ability to display a HTA.

Start up the ConfigMgr console and browse to Software Library, Operating Systems, right click on Task Sequences and choose Create MDT Task Sequence.



Choose a Template, there are several provided in the drop down menu, we will choose Client Task sequence



fill in the Task Sequence name and comments



for Details, fill in your Domain Join credentials



We are not going to catpure an image with this Task Sequence, as we are only using this Task Sequence to create the needed MDT Files and Settings packages...



for boot image, specify a previously created (empty folder) UNC path, eg: \\sccm\sources\os\boot\mdt\i386



fill in some MDT boot image details



and for options specify the X86 architecture and set your scratch space (environment for MDT to use in WinPE) to 128MB (to allow drivers etc...)



next select your optional WinPE components (language, MDAC/ADO support and PPoE)



and fill in your prestart, extrafiles and wallpaper options (all optional), make sure to leave F8 command prompt selected



Next we get to create our MDT Toolkit Files package, so select the Create a new Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Files package option, point it to a previously created path such as \\sccm\sources\os\mdt2013\files



fill in details about the MDT Toolkit Files package..be descriptive as it's common to have different versions of MDT Files in your lab (in the future)



for OS Image, specify an exiting image, select the Windows 7 X64 image we captured in part 7



and then select our previously created Configuration Manager Client Package



and our previously created USMT 4 package



for the Settings Package, we choose to create a new Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Settings Package, point it to \\sccm\sources\os\mdt2013\settings



fill in the Settings Package details



choose No Sysprep package and click next through the summary to Confirmation, answer Yes to any UAC prompt that may appear, at this point you can go take a long coffee break as this takes quite some time to mount the WIM image (boot) and create the packages and do it's magic..



and finally it's done !



Step 4. Distribute your new MDT packages and boot image to your distribution points
Note: Perform the following on the ConfigMgr 2012 server as SMSadmin

At this point, i'm sure we are all aware how to distribute content in ConfigMgr, and now we have some new packages (MDT Files, MDT Settings) and a new MDT boot image to distribute to our dp's.

I'll show you how to distribute one of these, you can do the rest.

Select the MDT Settings package in Software Library, Packages, right click it and choose Distribute Content



select your distribution point(s)



and continue through the wizard..




Note: Please don't forget to repeat the above process for the MDT Files, and the MDT boot image.

In the next part of this series we'll look at what we can do with MDT within ConfigMgr.

[dhedges01]

Hey Niall, this is an excellent series you've put together. I've loaded up MDT 2012 RC and CM12 RC2 in my lab however I'm having troubles getting the actual MDT Boot Wizard to launch. Any guidance on that?

[jmmj69]

Hello i have a problem with MDT 2012 RC1 I don t watch the task sequence deploy to VHD and i must always press F12 when thé PC boot on PXE, the intregration works with Any error can you help me please ?

[anyweb]

Hey Niall, this is an excellent series you've put together. I've loaded up MDT 2012 RC and CM12 RC2 in my lab however I'm having troubles getting the actual MDT Boot Wizard to launch. Any guidance on that?

 

hi Dustin,

did you follow my steps exactly ?

please stay tuned for a coming post which will cover the next steps, but as a hint, you need to first of all make your MDT boot image PXE bootable.

[sybux]

I'm getting an error at the end of the process :

 

 

Creating MDT files package.

Error while importing Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Task Sequence.

 

System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the path is denied.

at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)

at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError()

at System.IO.File.Move(String sourceFileName, String destFileName)

at Microsoft.BDD.Core.DirectoryUtility.CopyFile(DEInfo sourceFile, DEInfo destFile, String destFullName)

at Microsoft.BDD.Core.DirectoryUtility.CopyDirectory(String theSource, String theDest)

at Microsoft.BDD.Core.DirectoryUtility.CopyDirectory(String theSource, String theDest)

at Microsoft.BDD.Core.DirectoryUtility.BeginCopy()

at Microsoft.BDD.Wizards.SCCM_ImportTaskSequenceTask.DoWork(SmsPageData smspageData, Dictionary`2 data)

 

In which log should I watch to understand what's happening ?

[majestic103]

Hi, great series of blogs, really helped us get our POC lab setup. Having some trouble creating an MDT Client Task Sequence from this guide though - getting an error:

 

Started processing.

Creating boot image.

Copying WIM file.

Mounting WIM file.

Error while importing Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Task Sequence.

 

System.Exception: Failed to mount WIM file, return code -2147024894

 

 

Any ideas? Running RC2 (SCCM) which MDT 2012 RC1 on Windows Server 2008 SP2 (64Bit). Ran the MDT integration as Administrator as per the instructions...

 

Thanks,

Stuart

[deployzilla]

If you're running this on a server you may be having an issue with the Autorun.inf file in;

 

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Templates\Distribution\Scripts, or wherever you installed MDT 2012.

 

Remove the file and try again.

[Yuma]

If a have a bare metal client, and I want to deploy an OS on it do I have to do these steps WITH a sysprep package?

[anyweb]

what os do you want to Deploy ?

[barrettep]

Terrific series!

 

Am I correct in assuming that Step 3 needs to be repeated to create an x64 boot image to be used with MDT 2012?

 

Thanks,

Paul