Article
07/27/2015

Determine the Operating System Deployment Method to Use in Configuration Manager

Updated: May 14, 2015

Applies To: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1

There are different methods that you can use to deploy an operating system in your System Center 2012 Configuration Manager environment. Use the following tables to identify some of the installation considerations to help you determine which method to use to deploy operating systems.

PXE-Initiated Deployments

Dependencies	Advantages	Disadvantages	Reference
Distribution point that supports PXE deployments. Windows Deployment Services installation. Firewall port configuration.	This method works well when no user is present at the destination computer and for data center environments. You can associate users with the destination computer to support user-centric management.	Optional PXE deployments require user intervention. DHCP considerations when the DHCP server is installed on the same server as the PXE-enabled distribution point.	Planning for PXE-Initiated Operating System Deployments in Configuration Manager

Bootable Media-Initiated Deployments

Dependencies	Advantages	Disadvantages	Reference
Appropriate image architecture must be available on a distribution point that Configuration Manager clients can access.	Works well for bare metal operating system deployment scenarios (no operating system is installed). You can associate users with the destination computer to support user-centric management. As a security best practice, you can protect the media with a strong password.	Requires a physical presence at the destination computer.	Bootable Media Operating System Deployments How to Create Bootable Media

Appropriate image architecture must be available on a distribution point that Configuration Manager clients can access.

Works well for bare metal operating system deployment scenarios (no operating system is installed).
You can associate users with the destination computer to support user-centric management.
As a security best practice, you can protect the media with a strong password.

Requires a physical presence at the destination computer.

Bootable Media Operating System Deployments

How to Create Bootable Media

Stand-alone Media-Initiated Deployments

Dependencies	Advantages	Disadvantages	Reference
Media set of USB flash drive, CD, or DVD that contains the necessary installation files.	Use this method for computers that connect to Configuration Manager by using a low bandwidth connection. Computers do not require a connection to the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site. As a security best practice, you can protect the media with a strong password.	All files required for the installation must be contained on the media. All device drivers required for the installation must be on the media. You cannot set an expiration date on the media.	Stand-Alone Media Operating System Deployments How to Create Stand-alone Media

Media set of USB flash drive, CD, or DVD that contains the necessary installation files.

Use this method for computers that connect to Configuration Manager by using a low bandwidth connection.
Computers do not require a connection to the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site.
As a security best practice, you can protect the media with a strong password.

All files required for the installation must be contained on the media.
All device drivers required for the installation must be on the media.
You cannot set an expiration date on the media.

Stand-Alone Media Operating System Deployments

How to Create Stand-alone Media

Prestaged Media Deployments

Dependencies	Advantages	Disadvantages	Reference
Computers must be able to access an appropriate image architecture on a distribution point. Boot image must have the network and mass storage drivers that computers require to complete the deployment process.	Supports the preloading of the operating system image and boot image, which is suitable for a factory or a staging center. Speeds up the onsite deployment time. Works with current task sequences to provide up-to-date deployments. As a best practice, you can password-protect the media for security purposes. You can associate users with the destination computer to support user-centric management.	You must connect to a Configuration Manager site to create the media. The destination computer can be used only at the same Configuration Manager site where the media was created.	Prestaged Media Operating System Deployments How to Create Prestaged Media

Computers must be able to access an appropriate image architecture on a distribution point.
Boot image must have the network and mass storage drivers that computers require to complete the deployment process.

Supports the preloading of the operating system image and boot image, which is suitable for a factory or a staging center.
Speeds up the onsite deployment time.
Works with current task sequences to provide up-to-date deployments.
As a best practice, you can password-protect the media for security purposes.
You can associate users with the destination computer to support user-centric management.

You must connect to a Configuration Manager site to create the media.
The destination computer can be used only at the same Configuration Manager site where the media was created.

Prestaged Media Operating System Deployments

How to Create Prestaged Media

Side-by-Side Deployments

Dependencies	Advantages	Disadvantages	Reference
State migration point site role. You must create a computer association between the source and destination computer.	When you use the state migration point role, the user state can be saved to another computer and then restored to the new computer.	State migration point must have sufficient hard disk space to store the user state data.	How to Manage the User State in Configuration Manager

Configuration Manager Initiated Deployments

Dependencies	Advantages	Disadvantages	Reference
Destination computer must be a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager client.	You can deploy an operating system image without creating additional media.	The client computer must have a connection to a Configuration Manager site. Destination computers must be Configuration Manager clients.	Planning for Deploying Operating System Images in Configuration Manager

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