It's been long since we started using Altiris Deployment Servers and in the beginning we have been using Sysprep imaging for Windows 2000 (who does not remember these times). With new processor architectures and models (Hyperthreading, etc. it became very much difficult to use a single Sysprep image and so we made a decision to move away from Sysprep and moved on to the "Microsoft Standard way" and unattended installations of Windows.
Now I think it is time to share out how we use DS and maybe some of you in the community will adopt parts or find it useful.
A few words to the environment we work in:
We maintain a modular process, which provides maximum transparency. Now, what means modular? Basically, we separate things out, the OS source, Core applications (like Office, Adobe products, utilities), patches and also drivers. As you can imagine, this reduces the maintenance overhead a lot.
Enough said, please consume the attached document and comment back.
Thanks, -BBC
Great news. I thought it may have been taken down. Its an EXCELLENT document and would have been a great loss.
Company info changed!
Cheryl
Amazing article. Very well done. You may want to get your email address and/or company name out of it though..