Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 Beta 1 Available for Download

The first Beta development milestone of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 is now available for download and testing.

Early adopters interested in taking Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 Beta 1 out for a spin can head over to Microsoft Connect, join the MDT Beta program, download the bits and start testing them.

MDT 2012 is of course the next major version of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, designed to introduce a range of enhancements compared to its predecessor.

The Beta offers an excellent opportunity in this regard to existing MDT customers to get a preview of what’s coming next for this solution accelerator.

“Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Beta 1 rides the next wave of System Center releases with support for System Center Configuration Manager 2012,” revealed Microsoft’s Nick MacKechnie.

“For Lite Touch installations, MDT 2012 improves the overall client-side user experience, while also providing behind-the-scenes enhancements for partitioning, UEFI, and user state migration. These features, combined with many small enhancements, bug fixes, and a smooth and simple upgrade process, make MDT 2012 Beta 1 more reliable and flexible than ever.”

There’s really no hurry to sign up for Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 Beta 1 program and start testing, as the bits will be available to customers through August 1, 2011.

Still, it might be best for customers to get a head start. As is the case with all pre-release software, the Redmond company is looking for feedback from Beta testers.

All input can end up impacting the development process and the way that Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 RTM will be wrapped up.

MacKechnie highlighted some of the best parts of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 along with a few enhancements:

“Key benefits include:

• Fully leverages the capabilities provided by System Center Configuration Manager 2012 for OS deployment

• Improved Lite Touch user experience and functionality

• A smooth and simple upgrade process for all existing MDT users

New features include:

For System Center Configuration Manager customers - Support for Configuration Manager 2012 (while still supporting Configuration Manager 2007)

For Lite Touch Installation:

• More flexible partitioning

• Enhanced client-side user experience

• Integrated UEFI deployment capabilities

• New “Deploy to VHD” scenario

For all customers:

• Improved user state migration process

• Many small enhancements and bug fixes.”