14 DAY TRIAL // One of the evolved aspects of Windows Vista includes the installation experience of the operating system. In this regard, Vista is a huge leap forward compared to Windows XP, and this is valid for both home and business users. And while a zero touch installation of Windows Vista might have a certain ring to it, it is in fact a process designed to respond to the infrastructure management needs of corporate environments starting with reducing complexity, streamlining the deployment process and reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
But in the end, zero touch installations of Windows Vista are aimed at IT administrators and are in no way meant for the general public. Richard Smith, Senior Consultant Microsoft UK Consulting Services, has put together a video demonstration of the entire process associated with performing a zero touch installation of Vista in this 35-minute video offered by TechNet Edge. You will need Business Desktop Deployment 2007 (or the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, the latest version of which fully supports Vista Service Pack 1) and System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) 2007.
"Business Desktop Deployment 2007 provides planning, building, and technical guidance, templates, and scripts to facilitate deployment of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system. This release includes updates to support Windows Vista SP1 in addition to previously supported platforms," reads Microsoft's description of the Business Desktop Deployment 2007.
"System Center Configuration Manager 2007 is the solution to comprehensively assess, deploy and update your servers, clients, and devices - across physical, virtual, distributed and mobile environments. Optimized for Windows and extensible beyond, it is the best choice for gaining enhanced insight into and control over your IT systems," Microsoft added.
The video will walk you through setting up the server environment for ConfigMgr 2007 operating system installation, and also configuring the settings for the ConfigMgr 2007 site; the ConfigMgr 2007 Computer Management; the ConfigMgr 2007 Operating System Deployment, according to TechNet Edge's Joey Snow. In addition, users will also have to connect and integrate MDT with ConfigMgr 2007 and put together a machine object in System Center Configuration Manager which will later be used as reference. A mass deployment of Vista via ConfigMgr 2007 automatically involves a reference image which has to be created.