Rolling out new computers

[jthompson]

Couple more questions:

 

How do you name the computers automatically?

How do you join the computers to the domain?

Is there any way to use different local admin passwords somehow? (we have a different password for each IT room)

 

Using WDS here with a semi-fat image (most apps deployed afterwards using Group Policy). We use an answer file in WDS that automatically joins computers to the domain. The privileges needed on the account used to do that are pretty minimal, so definitely don't be putting domain admin credentials into a WDS answer file! (https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/95291-minimum-permission-needed-to-join-computer-to-domain).

 

I believe there is some way to have WDS prompt for a computer name during deployment, but we just let it join it with a random name so that deployment is able to run completely unattended and result in a functioning workstation. We manually rename computers afterwards.

 

For different local admin passwords, use LAPS. That can operate independently of whatever imaging method you employ, so you can fit and forget today if you wanted to.

[mavhc]

You set WDS to wait until you name and approve each computer

[supportman]

Has anyone used Acronis Snap Deploy 5?

 

It looks like it does the PXE boot and we can use our existing Acronis images.

 

I do wonder if its worth investing the time in learning the "Microsoft way" with these things.

[mavhc]

The new microsoft way is to install windows from the cloud/pre installed on your computer, and then sign into azure ad, and have intune reconfigure your computer how you want.

 

All MS server software is basically dead, because doing it the Azure way means you get to pay them every month, yay!

[supportman]

So I've got Microsoft Deployment Toolkit up and running now. Seems to be a nice solution.

 

Does anyone have a list of common software /silent command line switches? So far I have these:

 

Acrobat Reader, Chrome, Edge, Office 2019, Notepad++, papercut MF, VLC

Acrobat_Reader_Installer.exe /sAll
msiexec /i GoogleChromeStandaloneEnterprise64.msi /qn
msiexec /i MicrosoftEdgeEnterpriseX64.msi /qn
setup.exe /configure configuration-Office2019Enterprise_New.xml
npp.7.Installer.x64.exe /S
client-local-install.exe /SILENT
vlc-3.0.11-win64.exe /S

Edited October 1, 2020 by supportman

[mavhc]

Chocolatey packages are just zip files, and they all have the silent install switches by design

[Davit2005]

So I've got Microsoft Deployment Toolkit up and running now. Seems to be a nice solution.

 

Does anyone have a list of common software /silent command line switches? So far I have these:

 

Acrobat Reader, Chrome, Edge, Office 2019, Notepad++, papercut MF, VLC

Acrobat_Reader_Installer.exe /sAll
msiexec /i GoogleChromeStandaloneEnterprise64.msi /qn
msiexec /i MicrosoftEdgeEnterpriseX64.msi /qn
setup.exe /configure configuration-Office2019Enterprise_New.xml
npp.7.Installer.x64.exe /S
client-local-install.exe /SILENT
vlc-3.0.11-win64.exe /S

 

I've in the past used Universal Silent Switch Finder with some success, I'm not vouching on the link below for a download but it has more info.

 

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/find-hidden-command-line-silent-switches-for-setup-files/

Edited October 1, 2020 by Davit2005

[CHiLL]

I've in the past used Universal Silent Switch Finder with some success, I'm not vouching on the link below for a download but it has more info.

 

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/find-hidden-command-line-silent-switches-for-setup-files/

Why didn't I know about this sooner?!