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How Deployment Image Servicing and Management Works

3/21/2011

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a command-line tool for servicing Windows Embedded Standard 7 images.

Several platform technologies operate within the DISM framework and add functionality to it through the use of servicing command-line options. The servicing command-line options are typically associated with updating or configuring an offline Standard 7 image, and in some cases an online image (or running operating system). The functionality provided by the servicing command-line options is tied to DISM command-line options with a standard syntax model and a common logging engine used by DISM and all platform technologies. For more information, see Deployment Image Servicing and Management Command-Line Options.

The DISM command-line options are global and can be used with most servicing command-line options. The servicing command-line options work individually and cannot be used in combination with other servicing command-line options because only one platform technology can be called at a time. A Standard 7 image is made available by mounting the image, or by specifying an online image. When an action is specified by a servicing command-line option, the action is completed by the appropriate platform technology against the target image.

The following table describes the purpose of various platform technologies that operate within the DISM framework.

Purpose Technology

To add, remove, or enumerate driver .inf files

Device Management and Installation (DMI)

To add, remove, or enumerate packages that are .cab or .msu files

CAB files use Component Based Servicing (CBS) techology; the .msu file name extension is associated with the Windows Update Stand-Alone Installer technology

To apply settings in an unattended answer file

Settings Management Infrastructure (SMI)

Device Management and Installation (DMI)

Component Based Servicing (CBS)

To modify Windows image .wim files

Windows Image (WIM) file format

To create and modify Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) images

PEimg techology (a deprecated command-line tool)

To change the language, locale, fonts, and input settings in a Windows image

Intlcfg technology (a deprecated Windows Vista command-line tool)

To check the applicability of an application update

Microsoft Windows Installer

Windows Anytime Upgrade

See Also

Concepts

What Is Deployment Image Servicing and Management?
Deployment Image Servicing and Management Command-Line Options

Other Resources

Deployment Image Servicing and Management Technical Reference