Overview of Image-based Installations

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Image-based installation is a method of copying, or cloning, preconfigured operating systems and software applications onto clients and servers. You can perform image-based installations of the Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional operating system and the Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003, Standard Edition; Windows® Server 2003, Web Edition; and Windows® Server 2003, Enterprise Edition operating systems by using Sysprep and a third-party disk-imaging program.

Image-based installation is a suitable deployment method if you need to:

  • Install identical operating systems and software configurations on multiple computers.

  • Install an operating system and software configuration as quickly as possible.

  • Perform clean installations of an operating system, rather than upgrade an existing installation.

  • Minimize end-user interaction and post-installation tasks.

  • Install operating systems on computers that have similar hardware and compatible hardware abstraction layer (HAL).

In addition to these deployment solutions, you can customize an image-based installation to accommodate different hardware and software requirements; this allows you to use one disk image to deploy several different hardware and software configurations.

As a deployment solution, image-based installation requires substantial up-front planning and design. This chapter is designed to help IT professionals in medium and large organizations plan and design an image-based installation using Sysprep and a third-party disk-imaging program. It is assumed that you have already designed the client and server configurations that you want to deploy in your organization. This includes designing the configuration of all networking, directory services, and security components. You will use this client and server design information throughout this chapter to customize your image-based installation.

This chapter does not discuss image-based installation from an operations standpoint. In other words, the planning process and design decisions that are discussed in this chapter apply only to corporate deployments and rollouts; they do not apply to ongoing operational tasks such as reinstallation after a hard disk crash or reinstallation due to software or hardware failure.

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