garethEds Posted January 20 Posted January 20 So in the search for an MDT replacement I managed to finally get a 30 day demo of DeployR. Has anyone else started testing? I've got it all installed but I'm sure there is a step missing which is stopping it working properly. The install instructions are lengthy with several components needed on your machine before you even get to install DeployR. Bit off a ball ache to be fair. Software is free for schools but push for a discount on the support. We are testing before plunging. If anyone else is having a go with the demo - please do get in touch.
flipthebit Posted January 20 Posted January 20 This is my next job to see if I can get it working as it looks like a good replacement. Not begun yet.
AlphamaleZed Posted January 20 Posted January 20 Out of interest why don’t you use InTune or SCCM or autopilot?
Hamster Posted January 20 Posted January 20 I presume you are moving on due to Microsoft immediate retirement for MDT announcement? Have you looked into PSD By FriendsofMDT on GitHub (https://github.com/FriendsOfMDT/PSD)? Basically replaces all of the VBScript stuff in MDT with PowerShell scripts, this is what I'm hoping to use if it works out well, when I get around to testing it.
garethEds Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 (edited) @AlphamaleZed - We're not quite there yet. Going to be 12-18 months before we go along the inTune path. We are testing and working on it. As for SCCM - never even considered it. Edited January 21 by garethedmondson
garethEds Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 @Hamster - I've looked at it before and could never get it to work. So thought we'd try DeployR as a trial. Cannot get it to work though. All components are installed but DeployR is does not seem to be talking with the StifleR dashboard.
AlphamaleZed Posted January 21 Posted January 21 4 hours ago, garethedmondson said: @AlphamaleZed - We're not quite there yet. Going to be 12-18 months before we go along the inTune path. We are testing and working on it. As for SCCM - never even considered it. Oh fair enough, my experiance SCCM is decent and works a treat when configured properly. never had an issue. deploys well, PXE based, OS deployments push drivers properly. 1
ColonelPanic Posted January 21 Posted January 21 We use SCCM (MECM) very successfully here, but I'm quite excited to see something else. Autopilot is a big no, as we've got ~80GB of additional software that is baked into our image for all our devices. There's no way our trust would sign off on it, but it would be fun to have a play around with.
AlphamaleZed Posted January 21 Posted January 21 5 minutes ago, ColonelPanic said: We use SCCM (MECM) very successfully here, but I'm quite excited to see something else. Autopilot is a big no, as we've got ~80GB of additional software that is baked into our image for all our devices. There's no way our trust would sign off on it, but it would be fun to have a play around with. Jeez 80GB of what? Mines 5 GB including office lol! Do you not schedule it to be deployed after to install? I use the stock image and get a build time of 15 minutes per machine.
ColonelPanic Posted January 21 Posted January 21 12 minutes ago, AlphamaleZed said: Jeez 80GB of what? Mines 5 GB including office lol! Do you not schedule it to be deployed after to install? I use the stock image and get a build time of 15 minutes per machine. We've run Level 2/3 courses in Engineering (Solidworks) and Creative and Digital Media (Most of the Adobe CC suite), as well as Office. Due to questionable timetabling strategy, the classes are all over the school 😅 The admin staff get the small image with just office/VLC/other random bits on it 1
AlphamaleZed Posted January 21 Posted January 21 3 hours ago, ColonelPanic said: We've run Level 2/3 courses in Engineering (Solidworks) and Creative and Digital Media (Most of the Adobe CC suite), as well as Office. Due to questionable timetabling strategy, the classes are all over the school 😅 The admin staff get the small image with just office/VLC/other random bits on it Oh fair enough lol! Have you tried deploying adobe and office through Intune? I use adobe express free for k12 so got that which is pretty good for student photoshop and video editing. Intune deployments for apps seems a bit more manageable with updates rather than SCCM.
garethEds Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 So - a failed attempt at following the DeployR docs on a fresh server. Gave up and started again. Deployed a fresh server and followed the videos that they provide. Spoke to 2PintSoftware and they advised following the videos for setup rather than following the docs. They have provided 3 videos. Video 1 done before leaving work today. Lots of little things to install and setup. 1
garethEds Posted January 30 Author Posted January 30 Just thought I'd come back with an update on DeployR - it seems nice. After a few back and forths it works. Instructions are vague and there is not much external help on the web. However the support guys have been very patient with me and I have fed some changes back to them regarding the docs where things need to be clearer. Expensive it is - but there will be a community edition eventually.
AlexB Posted February 12 Posted February 12 On 30/01/2026 at 14:49, garethedmondson said: Just thought I'd come back with an update on DeployR - it seems nice. After a few back and forths it works. Instructions are vague and there is not much external help on the web. However the support guys have been very patient with me and I have fed some changes back to them regarding the docs where things need to be clearer. Expensive it is - but there will be a community edition eventually. On my list to trial too. I thought the software licence was free to public sector, just the support that was paid? Public Sector Pricing - 2Pint Software
garethEds Posted February 12 Author Posted February 12 Just now, AlexB said: On my list to trial too. I thought the software licence was free to public sector, just the support that was paid? Public Sector Pricing - 2Pint Software It is free for public sector - but I've needed support as I've found their documentation lacking. 1
mukz Posted March 27 Posted March 27 @garethedmondson is this now working for you? we have an issue with ipxe anywhere (essentially pxe boot works, then just get errors once its passed over to ipxe anywhere)
garethEds Posted March 27 Author Posted March 27 5 hours ago, mukz said: @garethedmondson is this now working for you? we have an issue with ipxe anywhere (essentially pxe boot works, then just get errors once its passed over to ipxe anywhere) Hi - no. We let the trial lapse. I ran out of time testing to be honest. I've not looked at it since. I've decided to use PEXE on our WDS server and not bother with ipxe.
garethEds Posted June 9 Author Posted June 9 The community version of DeployR has been released. You have to apply for the Community Licence and you may get an email saying it's a staged roll out - but it is out in the wild now. I've trialled the Enterprise version and it was very good. Bit of a ball ache to setup but we got there just before the trial run out.
kennysarmy Posted June 9 Posted June 9 5 minutes ago, garethedmondson said: The community version of DeployR has been released. You have to apply for the Community Licence and you may get an email saying it's a staged roll out - but it is out in the wild now. I've trialled the Enterprise version and it was very good. Bit of a ball ache to setup but we got there just before the trial run out. Did you look in to OSDCloud?
garethEds Posted June 9 Author Posted June 9 14 minutes ago, kennysarmy said: Did you look in to OSDCloud? Not yet. I did start looking at FFU but exams and other stuff got in the way.
AlexB Posted June 9 Posted June 9 58 minutes ago, garethedmondson said: The community version of DeployR has been released. You have to apply for the Community Licence and you may get an email saying it's a staged roll out - but it is out in the wild now. I've trialled the Enterprise version and it was very good. Bit of a ball ache to setup but we got there just before the trial run out. We got the same and then a helpful follow-up email 2 weeks later saying they hadn't forgot about us, but still no. In the meantime, I've been playing with the 30 day trial. It has some quirks, but I find it so much easier to work with than MDT
AlexB Posted June 9 Posted June 9 Anyone coming at it fresh, if you have a need for multiple task sequences, but they are going to share most parts, look into nested/child task sequences. That way you can make changes to the child task sequence and it updates all the parents... love it!
garethEds Posted June 9 Author Posted June 9 I'm wondering if I should remove the Enterprise trial before installing the Community version
AlexB Posted June 9 Posted June 9 (edited) 9 minutes ago, garethedmondson said: I'm wondering if I should remove the Enterprise trial before installing the Community version My guess is features will just be disabled. But, take a snapshot in case . Personally, I'd be tempted with just changing the license key to the community ones in the config files and see what happens 😮 This is back in December, but gives you an idea of what you'll miss. The main one for me that was mentioned in another video (sorry, watched too many to remember which) is that the cloud drivers "will" be branch cached in Ent, but not Community. Edited June 9 by AlexB
garethEds Posted June 9 Author Posted June 9 Cheers @AlexB - have been re-reading a lot this week. Just frustrating that they won't send out a licence file/code. I want it now whilst exams are ending and time is a bit quieter.
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