It is an old item but handy to have.
Fantastic new book hot off of Microsoft Press covering Windows Server 2008 R2.
Excerpt from the book:
“This book is targeted primarily at Windows server administrators who are responsible for hands-on deployment and day-to-day management of Windows-based servers for large organizations.”
Chapter breakdown is as follows:
Chapter 1, “What’s New in Windows Server R2”
Chapter 2, “Installation and Configuration: Adding R2 to Your World”
Chapter 3, “Hyper-V: Scaling and Migrating Virtual Machines”
Chapter 4, “Remote Desktop Services and VDI: Centralizing Desktop and Application Management”
Chapter 5, “Active Directory: Improving and Automating Identity and Access”
Chapter 6, “The File Services Role”
Chapter 7, “IIS 7.5: Improving the Web Application Platform”
Chapter 8, “DirectAccess and Network Policy Server”
Chapter 9, “Other Features and Enhancements”
And best of all a free electronic version is available here:
Lately I’m a bit busy with some offline project’s with large deployments and I think there is a good blog item in it but it takes some time to build it.
Deployment is easy tools are every where but what tool do I need and what to use
Not only Microsoft tools are here but also Altiris ( Symantec )
A Long time a go I build RIS images very cool and easy to use and a bit flexible
Then there was a Automated Deployment Services I did a TAP program but my test site was not complete for the TAP. Still a Cool product
Enterprise data center administrators face significant challenges as they scale their infrastructures and deploy and administer larger numbers of Windows servers in their environments. Windows Server 2003, Automated Deployment Services (ADS), is a new component of Windows Server 2003 that helps customers address those challenges. For example, ADS includes tools for deployment automation that support operating system and application installation to dozens or even hundreds of bare metal systems in a manner that supports security and auditing without administrator input.
As this white paper describes, the new set of ADS imaging tools developed by Microsoft help to offer a secure, rapid, and flexible deployment of both Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003. In addition, ADS enables script-based administration of a large number of Windows servers.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/ads.mspx
Then there was BDD
Desktop Deployment for Midsize Businesses
Business Desktop Deployment (BDD), or deploying Microsoft Windows, Office, and other applications to client computers, is a vital task for organizations of all sizes. You can deploy desktops using several methods depending on the number of client systems involved, available infrastructure, and skill level of IT staff. In very small organizations, BDD often means a hands-on, CD-based installation or purchase of systems with OEM versions of the operating system and applications already installed. In larger organizations, more advanced deployment processes and technologies can simplify and automate deployment; provide for remote configuration and management; and streamline disaster recovery.
The methods and tools you choose depend on your current IT environment. Environments for BDD fall into three primary categories: limited, basic, and well-managed. Table 1 identifies components and characteristics of each environment.
Business Desktop Deployment involves several key aspects, from planning to post-deployment management. The following sections describe these aspects for each target infrastructure.
Limited Management Infrastructure
The following list describes issues and solutions for desktop deployment for organizations with limited management infrastructure.
•Planning and Assessment. A successful deployment requires inventorying existing target client systems, operating systems, and applications and identifying which systems and applications will be upgraded. In smaller environments, custom Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts and scripts included in the Windows Resource Kits can be used to inventory systems and applications.
•Application Compatibility. Microsoft Windows XP and Office 2003 provide full compatibility with one another, but many deployment scenarios involve additional applications and older versions. Application compatibility analysis and testing help ensure existing applications will run on the new desktops and that any compatibility issues are remediated. For limited management environments, the Windows XP Help and Support Center and Program Compatibility Wizard (included with Windows XP) and the Windows Catalog are key compatibility resources. Older Windows applications can be configured with compatibility settings to enable them to run under Windows XP through the Compatibility tab page of the application’s properties.
See the following links for additional resources and solutions:
Resolving Application Compatibility Issues with Compatibility Administrator
Program Compatibility Wizard
Windows Catalog
Windows XP Upgrade Advisor
•User State Migration. Desktop deployment includes migrating user documents, files, application settings, and other data to target systems. The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP is a great method for limited management environments.
See the following links for additional resources and solutions:
User State Migration: Overview
User State Migration Tool
•Deployment and Installation. In limited management environments, the operating system and applications are often preinstalled on purchased systems. Additional deployment is generally through manual, CD-based installation.
See the following links for additional resources and solutions:
Deploying a Simple Managed Environment
Windows Deployment and Resource Kits
•Supplemental Applications. The Windows XP and Office 2003 combination form the core client tools for many organizations, but often needs to be supplemented with other applications. Manual installation is often used in limited management environments to install these supplemental applications.
•Security and Patching. It’s important to keep up-to-date with operating system and application updates. The Microsoft Update Web site, which combines Windows and Office updates, and Automatic Updates help limited management environments stay current.
And Now there is : Windows Deployment Services
Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2
This guide contains step-by-step guidance for how to install and configure the most common scenarios for Windows® Deployment Services (sometimes called “WDS”) in Windows Server® 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Note that you cannot use Windows Deployment Services with the Server Core installation option. To download the Windows Deployment Services documentation (including a step-by-step guide, deployment content, and WDSUTIL command-line syntax), see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=89381.
What is Windows Deployment Services?
Windows Deployment Services is the updated and redesigned version of Remote Installation Services (RIS). Windows Deployment Services enables you to deploy Windows operating systems over the network, which means that you do not have to install each operating system directly from a CD or DVD.
For information about what is new or included in your version of Windows Deployment Services, see Windows Deployment Services: What’s New (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140114).
Who should use this guide?
Windows Deployment Services is intended for deployment specialists who are responsible for the deployment of Windows operating systems. This guide assumes that you have a working knowledge of common desktop deployment technologies, as well as networking components such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Domain Name System (DNS), and Active Directory® Domain Services (AD DS). The target audiences are:
- Deployment specialists interested in deploying Windows images to computers.
- IT planners, designers, or analysts evaluating Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
More here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771670(WS.10).aspx
And the tools are here :
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
Deploy Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft Office products
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 (MDT 2010) provides a common console with the comprehensive tools and guidance needed to efficiently manage deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 is the recommended process and toolset to automate desktop and server deployment. Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 provides detailed guidance and job aids for every organizational role involved with large-scale deployment projects.
One-click downloads for:
Looking for other free, authoritative resources to help you proactively plan, integrate and operate IT systems? Visit the Solution Accelerators Home Page.
Deployment TechCenter
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/desktopdeployment/default.aspx
This is the first in a range I will try to build a complete now days server I know there are plenty around but lots of them are 2008 and not R2 in a few day’s I hope to fix this first I have to build a sharepoint farm 😉
Download the Beta releases, and take advantage of this opportunity to provide valuable feedback on these new compliance guides and resources for Windows® 7, Windows Server® 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2.
Download the IT Compliance Management Series for Windows – Beta at: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56419
The Compliance Solution Accelerators team has just released valuable extensions to the IT Compliance Management Series. And with “Companies now spend(ing) about 8.5 percent of their IT budgets on compliance needs," says French Caldwell, an analyst at Gartner (CIO Magazine, Sept 2007), these couldn’t be more timely. These new offerings provide specific technical guidance and resources for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
The IT Compliance Management Series will help you shift the burden of your IT governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) efforts from people to IT systems and implement controls to address IT GRC requirements that apply to your organization. This series is intended for IT managers and IT professionals who must plan, implement, or configure Microsoft products and who want to ensure that IT GRC requirements are addressed efficiently and effectively.
During this Beta period, reviewers are being asked to provide feedback on guides, resources, and compliance baselines that provide direction on how to enable Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2 to support your organization’s key IT GRC initiatives by taking advantage of features and technology inherent in the operating systems. Successful implementation of these recommendations will allow organizations to simplify the enforcement and management of their IT GRC objectives.
Looking for other Windows 7 resources from the Solution Accelerators team? Check out the Windows Desktop Solution Accelerators page.
Want more Windows Server 2008 R2 resources? Visit the Windows Server 2008 R2 Solution Accelerators page.
Solution Accelerators for every stage of Windows Server 2008 R2 migration
Plan
Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) guides
Streamline the design processes for Windows Server 2008 roles and Hyper-V server virtualization.
Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 4.0
Generate custom proposals and reporting for Windows Server 2008 R2 hardware compatibility and Hyper-V virtualization.
Deliver
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010
For faster, cost effective, automated Windows Server 2008 R2 deployment.
Windows Server 2008 Security Compliance Management (SCM) Toolkit
Meet security and compliance requirements.
Operate/ Manage
Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool
Keep offline virtualized servers up to date, protected from security threats.
Service Level Dashboard 2.0 for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2
Keep mission-critical applications available and running at peak performance.
Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF)
Gain a competitive advantage through increased efficiency and lower costs.
