Windows 7 : Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 - Creating and Populating a Deployment Share (part 5) - Creating a Task Sequence

3. Creating a Task Sequence

Task sequences (TSs) drive the deployment process. The TS will determine which operating system is deployed along with which applications, drivers, and patches. The operating system, applications, drivers, and patches are each considered tasks within the deployment. The TS dictates not only what is deployed, but also the order in which the tasks are performed. To create a new TS from within the Distribution Workbench, take the following steps:

1. Right-click Task Sequences and choose New Task Sequence. The New Task Sequence Wizard launches and the General Settings page is displayed, as shown in Figure 28.

   Figure 28. The General Settings page

   

2. On the General Settings page, type a task sequence ID, name, and comments. Then click Next.

3. On the Select Template page (Figure 29) is a drop-down list of task sequence templates. Choose the best one for your situation. Table 2 gives a short description of each template and what it does. (We've chosen the Standard Client Task Sequence.)

   Figure 29. The Select Template page

   

   Table 2. Default task sequence templates

   Task Sequence Template Name	Description
   Sysprep and Capture TS	Performs Sysprep on a reference machine, then reboots into WinPE and uses ImageX to capture an image of the machine.
   Standard Client TS	Deploys a desktop operating system, applications, drivers, and packages to a target client.
   Standard Client Replace TS	Backs up the target machine, and prompts you to save user settings and data . This TS does not deploy any image.
   Custom Task Sequence TS	Does not deploy an operating system. Mostly used to deploy applications, roles, and features.
   Litetouch OEM TS	Stages a setup to the disk so that it can be shipped to an OEM for cloning.
   Standard Server TS	Deploys a server operating system, applications, drivers, and packages to a target server (including roles like DNS, AD, and DHCP).
   Post OS Installation TS	Performs installation tasks after the operating system is deployed to a target machine.

   
   

4. Click Next to display the Select OS page (Figure 30). Expand the folders to find the OS you would like to deploy from this task sequence—we chose W7 Enterprise—and then click Next.

   Figure 30. The Select OS page

   

5. On the Specify Product Key page, choose one of the three selections (Figure 31): "Do not specify a product key at this time"; "Specify a multiple activation key (MAK key) for activating this operating system"; or "Specify the product key for this operating system." The first selection works if you are simply testing deployment methods or if you are an Enterprise customer whose product key is baked into your answer file. Also choose this option if you create a reference image. The second option allows you to type a MAK key for activating the target machines after deployment . The third option lets you type in a product key that will be used for all deployments that use this task sequence. Once you've made your selection, click Next.

6. On the OS Settings page (Figure 32), type your full name, organization, and Internet Explorer home page. Then click Next.

7. On the Admin Password page shown in Figure 33, you can specify a password for the local administrator account that will be created on the target machine after the installation of the OS. Either supply a password to be used or choose to not specify a password at this time and the password will be blank. If you would like the wizard to prompt you for a password during deployment time, you need to modify customsettings.ini, which causes MDT's client wizard to prompt the technician during deployment for the local admin password. If SkipAdminPassword=NO is set in CustomSettings.ini, the wizard will stop and ask for the local password.

   Figure 31. The Specify Product Key page

   

   Figure 32. The OS Settings page

   

   Figure 33. The Admin Password page

   

8. Click Next to display the Summary page. Review the details of the TS you are about to create, make changes if necessary, and click Next. The Progress page appears and then the Confirmation page. Click Finish to complete the New Task Sequence Wizard.

You're almost ready for deployment. You have imported all the components into the Deployment Workbench and put them together in the task sequence. Now it's time to update your deployment share. This is where the fun begins.