[wds] Recommendations please for school imaging ...

[plexer]

@jamesfed I should really split this as we have gone away from the original topic a bit but do you deploy your App-V apps from a streaming server or install locally?

 

I've now got a vbscript that checks for the pre-requisites by GUID and installs them if neccessary before installing the client.

 

Ben

[jamesfed]

@jamesfed I should really split this as we have gone away from the original topic a bit but do you deploy your App-V apps from a streaming server or install locally?

 

I've now got a vbscript that checks for the pre-requisites by GUID and installs them if neccessary before installing the client.

 

Ben

 

To true but hey maybe it will help others.

 

All done via streaming server to our clients - we do however for our interns use the local install feature (helps gets the programs on faster).

[plexer]

Yeah I'm just doing local atm allthough just run into the issue where the msi has to be coped to the local machine before install not sure if this will happen if I deploy via GPO as all msi's are installed with elevated permissions then.

 

Ben

[jamesfed]

Yeah I'm just doing local atm allthough just run into the issue where the msi has to be coped to the local machine before install not sure if this will happen if I deploy via GPO as all msi's are installed with elevated permissions then.

 

Ben

 

No clue about that in our case

[plexer]

Just posted my deployment script on my blog if anyone wants it:

 

Deploy App-V 4.6 SP1 Desktop Client « plextech

 

Feel free to improve it or whatever.

 

Ben

[SHimmer45]

so if i wanted to create a and roll out a Win7 image with software already preinstalled and other visual tweaks etc (we do roll out additional packages in Ranger)

would WDS be a better way than MDT

currently using Ghost but currently looking at streamline the number of images which we have to create/deal with XP but the school is looking at starting to phase in Win 7.

[garethEds]

so if i wanted to create a and roll out a Win7 image with software already preinstalled and other visual tweaks etc (we do roll out additional packages in Ranger)

would WDS be a better way than MDT

currently using Ghost but currently looking at streamline the number of images which we have to create/deal with XP but the school is looking at starting to phase in Win 7.

 

IN our school we have one image with all software. One WIndows 7 Enterprise image. We use MDT and let MDT choose which drivers to install during the installation. WDS is used for the pExe boot.

 

I personally would use MDT - especially if you have different machines which require different drivers.

 

Regards

 

Gareth

[gshaw]

With Windows 7 a single image is all you need

 

Driver Packages = win!

[gshaw]

MDT and App-V demo video is online now - Using MDT and App-V to get PCs to users fast! | my world of IT

 

There is a short intro about the whole process but if you skip ahead to about 4:15 the hands on demo is there.

 

Just skipping around the video (hate Youtube!) but was wondering what apps you find don't work with App-V? One of the prime candidates for me would be Photoshop, Lightroom etc but wonder if that might be one of the badly behaved ones...

[jamesfed]

so if i wanted to create a and roll out a Win7 image with software already preinstalled and other visual tweaks etc (we do roll out additional packages in Ranger)

would WDS be a better way than MDT

currently using Ghost but currently looking at streamline the number of images which we have to create/deal with XP but the school is looking at starting to phase in Win 7.

 

MDT is kind of like WDS but with more features that helps to automate the whole process - you will spend a fair bit of time working it out and getting things setup right but when it comes to imaging a room of 30 PCs you will save looooads of time (if you use MDT).

[jamesfed]

Just skipping around the video (hate Youtube!) but was wondering what apps you find don't work with App-V? One of the prime candidates for me would be Photoshop, Lightroom etc but wonder if that might be one of the badly behaved ones...

 

PhotoShop and Lightroom are possible however it is one big headache to get it to work, there are a few guides out there as to how to get it sequenced (just wish Adobe would release a package accelrator or two for it).

 

The only problems I have had otherwise have been with applications that require absolute paths (aka very old ones) and also the Macromedia Flash MX2004 program (it just dosn't keep the licence key).

 

Any other issues have been down to Windows 7 (ie 16bit programs or ones that just don't work right) but other than that everything should work in App-V.

[jamesfed]

Programs I couldn't get to work-

 

Aegies3 Application does launch in Windows 7

Dreamweaver MX 2004 Requires UAC elevation to run

Fittingly Sew Application is 16bit

Flash MX 2004 Does not capture lic key

GameMaker 7 Requires DEP to be turned off - some weird DRM error appears

Its your Choice Application not compatible with App-V - requires secure DLL files

Pinpoint Application is 16bit

PTC ProDESKTOP Didn’t work on first try - application launches then immediately closes

Speed Step Application requires legacy dongle to run

Text Thing Application is not stable enough to use

The Charters Software - New Careers Packge Application requires absolute paths to run

[garethEds]

Hello again,

 

First bit of advice - at the top of this forum is a sticky with all the links to MDT websites. An amazing resource of links.

 

Second - Get hold of this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deployment-Fundamentals-1-Johan-Arwidmark/dp/1451570031/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335951310&sr=8-1

 

Then maybe get this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Windows-Deployment-Aidan-Finn/dp/0470600314/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335951378&sr=1-1

 

The first book is one of the best and the author has answered a few questions for us on Twitter. I believe the first book and some websites will sort you out.

 

Good luck with it all.

 

Gareth

[SHimmer45]

been tinkering with MDT2012 seems to be pretty good so far (worth through some of the guide info) odd this is that on the image capture it appears to be removing flash which i test installed.....

 

liking the driver packaging very much