Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

Published: September 8, 2009   |   Updated: August 16, 2012

 

New – Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 Update 1

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1 is now available for download! This release expands your deployment capabilities with support for the latest software releases, including Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Community Technology Preview.

Download This Solution Accelerator

Launch the download of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1:

Visit the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 download page for quick details, system requirements, download instructions, and release notes.

About This Solution Accelerator

Deploy Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP, Office 365, Office 2010, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2003 with the newly released Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1. MDT 2012 Update 1 is the newest version of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, a Solution Accelerator for operating system and application deployment. MDT is the recommended process and toolset for automating Windows and Office deployments.

The Solution Accelerators Team added new features to MDT 2012 Update 1 that include the ability for users to initiate and customize their own deployments using System Center Configuration Manager 2012, key enhancements in Windows driver support, and much more.

MDT 2012 will provide new benefits such as:

  • Support for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 CTP: Added support in MDT for deploying Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 with ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 CTP, while supporting all new ConfigMgr functionality (offline BitLocker, UEFI, ADK).
  • Support for DaRT 8 Beta: Updated MDT to support DaRT 8 for Windows 8 deployments, while continuing to support DaRT 7 for Windows 7 deployments.  Added DaRT support for ConfigMgr scenarios.
  • New “Build Your Own Pages” UDI feature: Enhanced the UDI wizard and designer to enable IT pros to design their own wizard pages with little effort.
  • New System Center 2012 Orchestrator support: Provided the ability to add steps into an OS deployment task sequence to execute System Center 2012 Orchestrator runbooks as part of the deployment process.
  • Other improvements: Added support for PowerShell 3.0, reworked Roles and Features installation logic for Windows 8, improved “boot from VHD” deployment scenarios, added support for ConfigMgr monitoring.

These features, combined with many bug fixes and other improvements, make MDT 2012 more reliable and flexible than ever.

In More Detail

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 Update 1 supports deployment of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Office 365, Office 2010, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2003 versions.

MDT is the recommended process and toolset for automating desktop and server deployments. MDT provides you with the following benefits:

  • Unified tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment in a common deployment console and collection of guidance.
  • Reduced deployment time and standardized desktop and server images, along with improved security and ongoing configuration management.
  • MDT 2012 Update 1 supports Configuration Manager 2007 and Configuration Manager 2012 releases. Fully automated zero touch installation deployments by utilizing System Center Configuration Manager and Windows deployment tools. For those without a System Center Configuration Manager infrastructure, MDT uses Windows deployment tools for Lite Touch Installation deployments.
  • Support for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 CTP: Added support in MDT for deploying Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 with ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 CTP, while supporting all new ConfigMgr functionality (offline BitLocker, UEFI, ADK).
  • Customize deployment questions: For System Center Configuration Manager customers, MDT 2012 Update 1 provides an improved, extensible wizard and designer for customizing deployment questions.
  • Ease Lite Touch installation: The Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolkit (DaRT) is now integrated with Lite Touch Installation, providing remote control and diagnostics. New monitoring capabilities are available to check on the status of currently running deployments. LTI now has an improved deployment wizard user experience. Enhanced partitioning support ensures that deployments work regardless of the current structure.
  • Secure Deployments: MDT 2012 offers integration with the Microsoft Security Compliance Manager (SCM) tool to ensure a secure Windows deployment from the start.
  • Reliability and flexibility: Existing MDT users will find more reliability and flexibility with the many small enhancements and bug fixes and a smooth and simple upgrade process.
  • Support for Windows 8: MDT 2012 Update 1 provides support for deploying Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012.

Related Resources

Community and Feedback

To connect with others in the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit community, learn more about the tool, and get help with questions, visit the Deployment Forum.

Please send questions or comments about this Solution Accelerator to satfdbk@microsoft.com.

About Solution Accelerators

Solution Accelerators are authoritative resources that help IT pros plan, deliver, operate, and manage IT systems that address real-world scenarios. Solution Accelerators provide free, prescriptive guidance and automation to accelerate cross-product integration, core infrastructure development, and other enhancements.

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Download This Solution Accelerator

Launch the download of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1:

Visit the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 download page for quick details, system requirements, download instructions, and release notes.