OSD Reference Image Sequence (Full Version)

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rjarrett -> OSD Reference Image Sequence (2/29/2008 2:18:47 PM)

According to Microsoft http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680965.aspx, the sequence to capture a defined "reference image" is to:
  1. Configure the reference computer.
  2. Run SysPrep with option to shutdown computer.
  3. Create Image Capture Media (SCCM Console).
  4. Boot reference computer with Capture Image Media.
  5. Run Image Capture Wizard.

This makes no sense to me at all.  What is more, I cannot make it work.  Set aside the fact that you ought to have your "Image Capture Media" prepared BEFORE attempting any of this, here is what I have found to work:
  1. Create Image Capture Media (SCCM Console).
  2. Configure the reference computer.
  3. Run Image Capture Wizard.
  4. The Image Capture Wizard runs SysPrep and shuts down the computer.
  5. Boot reference computer with Capture Image Media.

Am I smoking something?  When I follow their documentation, the SysPrepped machine simply boots back into the mini-setup and never "captures" the image.  Their documentation suggests that you SysPrep and then "capture" that SysPrepped image during the reboot.  In fact, you have to go through the mini-setup, logon, then run the capture wizard which runs SysPrep all over again.  Am I missing something?

My sequence seems to flow smoothly, but I don't know if I am getting a "proper" image.  The attached image shows the MS flow chart an a parallel flow with the changes I have mentioned. 

Comments would be welcome!


[image]local://upfiles/12811/3075CB7B62B74910BD88F67B7CFF3A01.jpg[/image]



jdavis375 -> RE: OSD Reference Image Sequence (2/29/2008 2:42:20 PM)

Going through this very process right now myself. What I am doing is using a "build and capture" task sequence to create my base image. I am doing this on a virtual machine. This enables me to build a base image that doesn't have extraneous drivers in it. When I deploy the image I will have the Task Sequence inject the proper drivers to accomodate various hardware. I have the VM either PXE booting or booting from a bootable TS Media. Then it runs the "build and capture" task sequence and handles all of the build process, reboots, and upload. Got it to work fine yesterday.

Not sure if that helps or not, but that's my two cents.



MhermanNBME -> RE: OSD Reference Image Sequence (3/1/2008 1:11:40 PM)

I agree with your logic, and that is what worked for me. I actually was working from a lab from microsoft management summit last year which pretty much followed your order.



wbracken -> RE: OSD Reference Image Sequence (3/3/2008 7:46:25 PM)

Yep.  As with Jarvis I am doing the build and capture sequence (using the intergation from MDT to import the task sequence).

You are correct though in your logic that the first scenerio does not make sense.  You want to boot into Windows PE (via SCCM TS or via physical capture media) after sysprep runs and shuts the machine off otherwise yes mini-setup runs thus rendering you capture reference machine unusable and you must start again.

I also would recommend looking at building your reference machine in a VM (Virtual PC 2007/VMWare Server are free) and like Jarvis said keep unwanted drivers out of the base build and allows you to always have the "hardware" available to reproduce the base build process as needed.



rjarrett -> OSD Reference Image Sequence (3/5/2008 9:12:08 AM)

My reference machine is a VMWare Server 1.0.4 machine.  I have used both the VM and Intel Pro-100/1000 drivers.

I have not yet been successful in creating bootable media by "applying" drivers to the SCCM Vista x86 boot image.  The drivers added nicely into the SCCM console.  They "applied" to the boot image and the distribution points were updated.  However, when I create an ISO from that image, it does not support the network.  I am still investigating.

On the good side, I created a custom VMWare WXP SP2 compatible boot image that includes those NIC drivers using Windows AIK and its default Vista x86 boot image.  Using that custom boot image, I was able to prepare a capture media.  I then captured my WXP SP2 machine to an image file.  I have successfully tested bare metal installation with that WXP SP2 image, using both standalone media and network boot images.  Thus far, I have not done a PXE boot install.

The next step is to capture a Vista x86 reference machine.  Then I should be able to test bare metal deployments and upgrades both.  In any case, VMWare has proven useful.  The next step is to test its installation on a physical machine.  Even if it fails, the procedures used to add the VM and Intel NIC drivers to the image will permit adding other drivers, as needed.




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