Appendix E: BDD Automation

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Automate the application of enterprise license keys and MAKs with the Deployment Workbench and Windows Deployment Wizard. Teams can automate the process through modifications to the CustomSettings.ini file located in Sources in the BDD 2007 distribution folder. This appendix gives an overview of this process, which is covered in more detail in the Lite Touch Installation Guide.

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Using the Windows Deployment Wizard Using the Windows Deployment Wizard
Automating the Windows Deployment Wizard Automating the Windows Deployment Wizard

Using the Windows Deployment Wizard

During LTI preparation, the Windows Deployment Wizard asks for Windows Vista activation keys, as shown in Figure 6. The wizard inserts these keys during the LTI deployment process to automate the application of these keys during deployment.

Deploying Windows Vista Using the Windows Deployment Wizard

The wizard presents the following options at this stage:

  • The No product key is required option is used to configure a KMS client computer.

  • The Activate the machine with a multiple activation key option lets team members type a MAK, which is used with Slmgr.vbs to launch activation of the system.

  • Use the Use a specific product key option to enter a retail product key for retail editions of Windows Vista. (These systems require Internet or telephone activation following installation.)

Note   For the product key pages to be displayed, the value SkipProductKey in CustomSettings.ini must be set to NO. CustomSettings.ini can be found in the Control folder within the Distribution share on the BDD deployment server.

Figure 6. Windows Deployment Wizard product key page

Figure 6. Windows Deployment Wizard product key page

Figure 6. Windows Deployment Wizard product key page

Deploying Windows XP Using the Windows Deployment Wizard

The Windows Deployment Wizard presents a slightly different view if team members are installing Windows XP. Instead of asking for activation method, the user is prompted only for the Windows XP product key (Figure 7).

Windows XP systems can be imaged using the tools provided with BDD 2007. A reference system can be built and prepared for imaging using Sysprep. The image can be included in the BDD 2007 distribution share and deployed using the LTI deployment tools provided with BDD 2007. More details about the preparation and deployment of Windows XP are available in the Computer Imaging System Feature Team Guide and the Lite Touch Deployment Guide.

Figure 7. Entering the Windows XP product key

Figure 7. Entering the Windows XP product key

Figure 7. Entering the Windows XP product key

Note   The Windows Deployment Wizard prompts for a product key when the value of SkipProductKey in CustomSettings.ini is left blank.

Automating the Windows Deployment Wizard

Information entered during the operating system build process (see the Computer Imaging Systems Feature Team Guide) is stored in the CustomSettings.ini file and in .xml files within the Control folder of the Distribution share. This information is used to answer certain questions normally asked by the Windows Deployment Wizard.

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