In this example, you configure the rules to set the computer name to a prefix (PC-), and then to the serial number. If the serial number of the device is CND0370RJ7, the computer name is set to PC-CND0370RJ7 in the previous configuration. Note Save the boot .ini file and make sure that CustomSettings.ini (in the Control folder) displays the updated rules. In Deployment Workbench, right-click your deployment share and select Update Deployment Share. This will generate your startup media. To simplify the creation process, we launch a virtual machine from the generated Lite Touch ISO. Rules contain built-in properties that use a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) query to determine whether the computer that you are deploying is a laptop, desktop, or server. This example assumes that you want to add laptops to different organizational units in Active Directory. Note that ByLaptopType is not a reserved word. Rather, it is the name of the article to read. The beauty of this example is that it really does several things and creates a set of multiple rules based on location and device type. Note how the computer name is generated based on location, device type, and series.
Pretty smooth, right? To avoid assigning a computer name longer than 15 characters, you can configure the rules in more detail by adding VBScript functions as follows: In this topic, you will learn how to configure the MDT Rules Engine to access other resources, including external scripts, databases, and Web services. to get additional information instead of storing parameters directly in the rules engine. The rules engine in MDT is powerful: most of the settings used for operating system deployments are retrieved and assigned through the rules engine. In its simplest form, the rules engine is the CustomSettings text file.ini. In the figure above, the entries here, which are still part of the default section, serve as additional examples of parameters that can be modified to perform functions such as running a workgroup or domain join using the JoinWorkgroup= or JoinDomain= entry and specifying the name of the workgroup or domain you want to join. To further automate the process, the DomainAdmin=, DomainAdminDomain=, and DomainAdminPassword= records must be added to include the account name with domain rights, the password for that account, and the domain name to which the account belongs. In the previous example, you always configure the rules to set the computer name to a prefix (PC-) followed by the serial number. However, by adding the LEFT VBScript function, you configure the rule to use only the first 12 serial number characters for the name.
Before you add advanced components, such as scripts, databases, and Web services, consider the common configurations listed below. they demonstrate the performance of the rules engine. You can also configure the rules engine to use a known property, such as . B as the serial number, to generate a computer name on the fly. Be sure to change the ORGNAME, administrator password, time zone, and WSUS/SLShare path. Ideally, your MDT capture environment is separate from the production environment. This provides an easy way to maintain separate rules. If you are using an existing CustomSettings.ini in an existing MDT environment, you must set at least DoCapture=Yes and SkipCapture=No.
If you have a small test environment or just want to assign parameters to a very limited number of computers, you can modify the rules to assign parameters directly to a specific MAC address. If you have a lot of machines, it makes sense to use the database instead. Last March`s TrueSec newsletter was filled with even better examples of Mikael, and my favorite is below. However, it reminded me of some of his best examples that weren`t on this page, I thought I`d share one with you. I try to use these instructions to create a WS2016 reference image. I continue to be stopped when I start the REF01 virtual machine. The task sequence starts, but I get the error message that I can`t connect to the deployment share (“Possible Cause: Invalid Credentials”). I think that means something is misconfigured in Bootstrap.ini, but I couldn`t figure out what. When working with variables and changing priority headers, it is imperative that you test each component of the CS file before putting it into production. One final point to keep in mind is that the information in the CS file is processed on a first-come, first-served basis. If two or more entries conflict, the first detected entry is written – the others are ignored.
While Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and VLC Player have been added as silent installers in this sample deployment, Microsoft CDN first downloads Office to the target device using the provided configuration file. This adds a few minutes to the deployment as the target device needs to download almost 4GB of data, but it is a very simple and convenient way to install Office. If you have an Office ISO image, you can use it as a source instead when you add this new application. Mount the ISO and use it as the source. In this case, the installation command would simply be configured.exe next is the [ClientType] section, which is optional, but I find that deployments buzz quite easily when managing multiple types of devices such as desktops, laptops, and servers. On another note, you can “explain-how-I-am-5” what Bootstrap.ini as opposed to custom settings.ini? If possible, I only look for 2 sentences about it. I`m above the details, but I feel like I don`t see the big picture. Jesus Vigo is a daytime network administrator and Mac owner| Jesus, LLC, which specializes in Mac and Windows integration, provides solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. He brings 19 years of experience and several seve certifications. The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit provides advanced settings that you can use to automate the deployment process, and with the CustomSettings.ini file, you can go further with this automation. Similar to Bootstrap.ini the file can be divided into three sections: Settings, Custom, and Default. .
Be careful when using the serial number to assign computer names. A serial number can contain more than 15 characters, but Windows Setup limits a computer name to 15 characters. For a complete list of language and region values, see: Default input profiles (input locale) in Windows | Microsoft Docs If you have not already done so, create a second virtual machine that serves as a client. Assign the machine two virtual processors and at least 4 GB of RAM. These two elements alone can shorten the construction and recording time by 20 to 25 minutes. If you want to save extra time, consider booting the virtual machine from a RAMDisk and changing the process of capturing from ImageX to DISM. Wait for this process to complete. You can then click Edit Unattended again.xml.
Soon after, the answer file opens more or less immediately in WSIM: No, I didn`t write this example, it comes from a series of examples written by the legendary Mikael Nystrom of TrueSec and Co – author of “Deployment Fundamentals”. A few weeks ago, I published an MDT CustomSettings guide.ini with some tips and tricks for advanced MDT 2012 users. However, if you are just starting to learn more about the rename of the CustomSettings MDT file.ini, you should read Mikael Nystrom`s Guide Back to basics – Customsettings.ini. He explains how this file really works and how you can simplify testing. This is pretty much a must for anyone who works with MDT. · Create ZTI task sequences by using the Create MDT Task Sequence Wizard in Configuration Manager 2012 Thanks to Joseph. So if you suggest removing everything except the bootstrap deployment root line.ini to test credentials, are you saying that a certain set of credentials is used by default (SYSTEM perhaps?)? I`m trying to streamline what`s happening here because I`ve NEVER encountered such a strange problem in any of my previous MDT implementations with other companies. I understand that when the PXE boot is configured with the MDT/WDS server, it reads the boot.ini to connect to the MDT share and find all its scripts, including the CS file.ini in the Control folder and the cs.ini file is read and used to provide the selected TS? Note: One of the easiest ways to find the product name on a computer is to start the command line, type the following command, and then press Enter: In my example, adding Chrome, Firefox, Opera, VLC, and Office that you want to install automatically, this section of CustomSettings.ini may look like this: Anyone who has purchased a Windows device from Microsoft or several other vendors in recent years has. The EventService= parameter enables system logging on the server and the share path that you enter here, which can be useful for troubleshooting some errors or issues that prevent MDT from running correctly. The screenshot above shows the MDT CustomSettings file.ini by default. It can be edited with the editor or another plain text editor, or directly in the Properties window.
Here`s the one I`m going to use in this sample deployment: These were probably stored under a user profile. .