Pop Quiz: Deploying a Windows Server 2008 Image -- Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online

Pop Quiz: Deploying a Windows Server 2008 Image

Applies to the "Planning for Server Deployment" objective of Exam 70-646: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator.

By Andy Barkl
08/15/2012

Q: A company's IT team would like to deploy a standardized Windows Server image to several machines on the network. Using Windows Deployment Services (WDS), which steps are required to capture the image with the least amount of administrative effort? (Choose all that apply; each answer presents a partial solution.)

Create a capture image on the WDS server.
Create a boot image of the WDS server.
Run Wdsutil /export-image on the WDS server.
Run Sysprep /oobe /generalize on the WDS server.

Answer and explanation is below.

Answers are A, B: The steps required to capture a standardized image are as follows:

Run Sysprep /oobe /generalize on the server, which includes the image to be deployed.
Create a capture image on the WDS server.
Create a boot image of the WDS server.
Start the imaged server using Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) boot.
Run ImageX /capture.

Quick Tip: After capturing an image, run ImageX /mount or ImageX /mountrw to mount the image to a computer for modification, including adding, editing, and deleting files, drivers, updates, etc.

References:

Bonus Question: Which tool in Windows Server 2008 R2 unifies management and administration of disk quotas, file screening, storage reports? (Tweet your answer with #pop646a and get a chance to win a rare MCPmag.com baseball cap! Deadline for entries is Monday, August 20.)

Answer to bonus question from last time: Windows Server 2008 R2 will only be supported on the Itanium processor until 2018.

About the Author

Andy Barkl, MCT/MCITP/MCSA, A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA has been studying technology for 30 years. Of the last 15 years, he has spent much of his time parting the knowledge and experience he has gained through IT exams, over 300, to help others be prepared and successful. He teaches classes in Phoenix, Ariz. where he has lived most of his life. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].