About Operating System Deployment Image Management
There are several package types that Configuration Manager uses to manage reference computer operating system images.
For more information about operating system deployment image management, see Manage operating system images with Configuration Manager.
Reference Computer
Operating System Installation
The operating system installation package contains all the files necessary to install the desired Windows operating system on a reference computer. in Configuration Manager, they're managed by SMS_OperatingSystemInstallPackage. This package doesn't require a program. The task sequence references the source files as needed.
Boot Image
An operating system deployment boot image is a Windows Pre-Installation Environment (PE) 2.0 image that is used during the operating system deployment process. In Configuration Manager, boot images are managed by SMS_BootImagePackage. For more information, see How to Add a Boot Image from a WIM File in Configuration Manager.
Driver Packages
Driver packages contain Windows device drivers that aren't included with the operating system. In Configuration Manager they're managed by SMS_DriverPackage objects. For more information, see How to Create a Driver Package for a Windows Driver in Configuration Manager.
Sysprep Package
Sysprep is a Windows system presentation tool that facilitates image creation and preparation of an image for deployment to multiple computers. Sysprep is supplied with Windows Vista, but if you're deploying Windows XP or an earlier operating system, you must create an SMS_Package object package to contain Sysprep and its support files. For more information about creating SMS_Package objects, see How to Create a Package.
Target Computer
Operating System Image
Operating system image packages contain operating system images. In Configuration Manager, they're managed by SMS_ImagePackage objects. For more information, see How to Add an Operating System Image Package in Configuration Manager.
Configuration Manager 2007 Client Installation
Because every operating system deployment installs the Configuration Manager client, you need to create a package (SMS_Package) to install the Configuration Manager client. You can use the package definition file that is included with Configuration Manager for the Configuration Manager client upgrade. For more information about creating a package with a package definition file, see How to Create a Package by Using a Package Definition File Template.
User State Migration Tool
If you're migrating user state from one desktop to another, then you should use the User State Migration Tool (USMT) as your migration tool.
In Configuration Manager, you create a package (SMS_Package) object to run the USMT on the computer. A package program isn't required.
Other Packages
You'll need to create other packages (SMS_Package) for the applications you want installed on the target computer.
Package Distribution
You copy the various package types to distribution points by using the same method that you would use for copying SMS_Package package object. For more information, see How to Assign a Package to a Distribution Point.