Practice Lab: Deploying Windows 11 using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

Summary

In this lab, you will use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit to create and deploy a Windows 11 operating system image.

Scenario

You need to deploy a new Windows 11 virtual machine named SEA-WS4. You decide to use Microsoft Deployment Toolkit to deploy the operating system to a virtual machine created in Hyper-V. You will configure a new Deployment Share in MDT and then configure the task sequence that will perform the steps to deploy SEA-WS4.

Task 1: Create a new Deployment Share

1. On SEA-SVR2, sign in as Contoso\Administrator with the password Pa55w.rd.

2. On the taskbar, select File Explorer and then browse to E:\Labfiles\ISOs.

3. Right-click Win11_21H2_Eval.iso and then select Mount. The ISO mounts as DVD Drive F.

4. Close File Explorer.

5. Select Start, expand Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, and then select Deployment Workbench.

6. In the Deployment Workbench, right-click Deployment Shares and then select New Deployment Share.

   The New Deployment Share Wizard opens.

7. On the Path page, under Deployment share path, change the value to E:\DeploymentShare and then select Next.

8. On the Share page, take note of the Share name, but do not change it. Select Next.

9. On the Descriptive Name page, accept the default value and select Next.

10. On the Options page, configure the following, and then select Next:

    • Ask to set the local Administrator password: Enabled

    • All other check boxes: Disabled

11. On the Summary page, review the information and then select Next.

12. On the Confirmation page, ensure that the process completed successfully and then select Finish.

13. Under Deployment Shares, expand the MDT Deployment Share folder.

    Take note of the various nodes that can be configured for the deployment share.

Task 2: Add Operating System files to the Deployment Share

1. In the Deployment Workbench, expand Deployment Shares, expand MDT Deployment Share, and then select Operating Systems.

2. Right-click Operating Systems and then select Import Operating System. The Import Operating System Wizard opens.

3. In the Import Operating System Wizard, on the OS Type page, select Full set of source files and then select Next.

4. On the Source page, under Source Directory, enter F:\ and then select Next.

5. On the Destination page, change the default destination directory name to Windows 11 Enterprise x64 and then select Next.

6. On the Summary page, review the information and then select Next.

   The operating system source files are copied into the deployment share.

7. On the Confirmation page, ensure that the process completed successfully and then select Finish.

8. In the Deployment Workbench, with Operating Systems selected, verify that the operating system displays.

Task 3: Add Applications to the Deployment Share

1. In the Deployment Workbench, expand Deployment Shares, expand MDT Deployment Share, and then select Applications.

2. Right-click Applications and then select New Application. The New Application Wizard opens.

3. In the New Application Wizard, on the Application Type page, select Application with source files and then select Next.

4. On the Details page, configure the following, and then select Next:

   • Publisher: Microsoft
   • Application Name: XML Notepad

5. On the Source page, under Source directory, enter E:\Labfiles\Apps and then select Next.

6. On the Destination page, accept the default destination directory name and then select Next.

7. On the Command Details page, under Command line enter XmlNotepadSetup.msi /q and then select Next.

8. On the Summary page, review the information and then select Next.

9. On the Confirmation page, ensure that the process completed successfully and then select Finish.

Task 4: Create an MDT Task Sequence

1. In the Deployment Workbench, expand Deployment Shares, expand MDT Deployment Share, and then select Task Sequences.

2. Right-click Task Sequences and then select New Task Sequence. The New Task Sequence Wizard opens.

3. On the General Settings page, configure the following and then select Next:

   • Task sequence ID: 001
   • Task sequence name: Deploy Windows 11 Enterprise

4. On the Select Template page, select Standard Client Task Sequence, and then select Next.

5. On the Select OS page, select Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation and then select Next.

6. On the Specify Product Key page, select Do not specify a product key at this time, and then select Next.

7. On the OS Settings page, configure the following and then select Next:

   • Full Name: User
   • Organization: Contoso Corporation
   • Internet Explorer Home Page: about:blank

8. On the Admin Password page, select Use the specified local Administrator password, and then enter Pa55w.rd in both text boxes. Select Next.

9. On the Summary page, review the information and then select Next.

10. On the Confirmation page, ensure that the process completed successfully and then select Finish.

11. In the Deployment Workbench, with Task Sequences selected verify that the Deploy Windows 11 Enterprise task sequence displays.

12. Right-click the Deploy Windows 11 Enterprise task sequence, and then select Properties.

13. Select the Task Sequence tab.

14. Expand the Validation node and then select Validate.

15. On the Properties page, remove the check marks next to Ensure minimum memory and Ensure minimum processor speed.

    Do not make any other changes.

16. On the Deploy Windows 11 Enterprise Properties window, select OK.

Task 5: Configure Deployment Share Properties and Windows PE settings

1. In the Deployment Workbench, expand Deployment Shares, and select MDT Deployment Share.

2. Right-click MDT Deployment Share and then select Properties.

3. In the MDT Deployment Share Properties window, on the General tab, take note of the information that was provided when the deployment share was created.

4. Select the Rules tab.

   The Rules tab displays the content of the CustomSettings.ini file. These values were also provided during the creation of the deployment share.

5. Select the Windows PE tab.

   The Windows PE tab provides options for creating a Windows PE boot disk.

6. On the Windows PE tab, next to Platform, select x64.

7. In the Windows PE Customizations section, next to Scratch space size, select 64.

8. Select the Features tab and then select the check box next to the following Feature Packs:

   • DISM Cmdlets
   • Windows PowerShell
   • Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC/ADO) support

9. Select the Monitoring tab.

10. On the Monitoring tab, select the check box next to Enable monitoring for this deployment share.

11. In the MDT Deployment Share Properties window, select OK.

12. Right-click MDT Deployment Share and then select Update Deployment Share. The Update Deployment Share Wizard opens.

13. On the Options page, select Optimize the boot image updating process and then select Next.

14. On the Summary page, select Next.

    The Deployment Share starts to update and create the Windows PE files. This will take a few minutes to complete.

15. On the Confirmation page, ensure that the process completed successfully and then select Finish.

Task 6: Deploy Windows 11 Using MDT

1. On SEA-SVR2, on the taskbar, select Hyper-V Manager.

2. In Hyper-V Manager, select Virtual Switch Manager.

3. Select New virtual network switch and then in the details pane, select External. Select Create Virtual Switch.

4. In the Virtual Switch Properties page, under Name, enter External network, select OK, and then select Yes.

5. In Hyper-V Manager, select SEA-SVR2 and then in the Actions pane, select New and then select Virtual Machine.

6. On the Before you Begin page, select Next.

7. On the Specify Name and Location page, in the Name box type SEA-WS4.

8. Select the check box next to Store the virtual machine in a different location and then next to Location type E:\Labfiles\VirtualMachines. Select Next.

9. On the Specify Generation page, ensure that Generation 2 is selected and then select Next.

10. On the Assign Memory page, next to Startup memory type 8192 and then select Next.

11. On the Configure Networking page, next to Connection, select External Network and then select Next.

12. On the Connect Virtual Hard Disk page, select Create a virtual hard disk and enter the following and then click Next:

    • Name: SEA-WS4.vhdx
    • Location: E:\Labfiles\VirtualMachines
    • Size: 60 GB

13. On the Installation Options page, select Install an operating system from a bootable image file and configure the following:

    • Image file (.iso): E:\DeploymentShare\Boot\LiteTouchPE_x64.iso

14. Select Next and then Finish.

15. In Hyper-V Manager, right-click SEA-WS4, and then select Settings.

16. Select Security, and then select the check box next to Enable Trusted Platform Module.

17. Select Processor, and then change the number of virtual processors to 2.

18. Select OK to close the Settings dialog box.

19. In Hyper-V Manager, select SEA-WS4, select Connect, and then select Start.

20. As the computer starts press any key on the keyboard to invoke the MDT Deployment Wizard. Maximize the window as needed.

21. On the Welcome page, select Run the Deployment Wizard to install a new Operating System.

22. On the Specify credentials for connecting to network shares window, enter the following and then select OK:

    • User Name: Administrator
    • Password: Pa55w.rd
    • Domain: Contoso

23. On the Task Sequence page, select Deploy Windows 11 Enterprise and then select Next.

24. On the Computer Details page, next to Computer name enter SEA-WS4 and then select Next.

25. On the Move Data and Settings page, select Next.

26. On the User Data (Restore) page, select Next.

27. On the Locale and Time page, select Next.

28. On the Applications page, select Next.

29. On the Administrator Password page, enter Pa55w.rd in both text boxes and then select Next.

30. On the Ready page, select Begin.

    The installation begins. It will take 15-20 minutes to complete and will reboot SEA-WS4 during the installation as needed.

31. Switch to the Deployment Workbench.

32. In the Deployment Workbench, expand Deployment Shares, and expand MDT Deployment Share.

33. Select Monitoring and then in the details pane, double-click SEA-WS4.

    Review the monitoring status during the deployment.

34. Switch to SEA-WS4.

35. After the installation is complete, the desktop will open and finalize the deployment. At the deployment summary, select Finish.

36. Shut down SEA-WS4 and close the Virtual Machine Connection window.

37. In Hyper-V Manager, right-click SEA-WS4 and then select Settings.

38. In the Settings for SEA-WS4, expand SCSI Controller and then select DVD Drive.

39. In the details pane, under Media, select None, and then select OK.

40. Right-click SEA-WS4 and then select Checkpoint to create a checkpoint of the current state of SEA-WS4.

41. On SEA-SVR2, close Hyper-V Manager and close the Deployment Workbench.

42. Open File Explorer, right-click DVD Drive F and then select Eject.

43. Close File Explorer and sign out of SEA-SVR2.

Results: After completing this exercise, you will have successfully used the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit to create and deploy a Windows 11 workstation.

END OF LAB