Upgrading MDT Server 2012 to 2013 the easy way...

Upgrading MDT 2012 to MDT 2013

So I finally got my deployment environment working great and now my boss comes to me and asks me why we still don't support Microsoft Windows 8.1. Good question right except not so much because it means that I now need to upgrade my server in order to support this new feature, not to fear :-)

Before we move to the next stage please check out my Operating System Support table bellow to see if this upgrade is appropriate for your organization or not.

Operating Systems	MDT 2012	MDT 2013
Microsoft Windows XP x86 SP3	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows XP x64 SP3	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x86	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 x86 SP2	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 SP2	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows Vista x86 SP2	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows Vista x64 SP2	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x86 SP2	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64 SP2	Supported	Not Supported
Microsoft Windows 7 x86 SP1	Supported	Supported
Microsoft Windows 7 x64 SP1	Supported	Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1	Supported	Supported
Microsoft Windows 8 x86	Supported	Supported
Microsoft Windows 8 x64	Supported	Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2012	Supported	Supported
Microsoft Windows 8.1 x86	Not Supported	Supported
Microsoft Windows 8.1 x64	Not Supported	Supported
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2	Not Supported	Supported

Note: For older organizations that require continued to support for Microsoft Windows XP this is no supported method to install Microsoft Windows XP from MDT 2013. For organizations that require this additional support I recommend that you review my previous blog on maintaining multiple servers and upgrade the newly created server.

Preparation

1. Download Microsoft ADK for Windows 8.1 Update 
2. Download Microsoft MDT 2013
3. Backup your existing Deployment Share (Although if done correctly no changes will be made to your applications or images just the same, it's always a good practice to backup your deployment share before making serious changes.
4. Make sure that no computers are being installed from the Deployment Share at present

The Upgrade Process

• Uninstall Microsoft ADK Windows 8

o   Open the Control Panel 

o   Choose Uninstall a program 

o   Choose the Assessment and Deployment Kit 

o   Click Uninstall 

o   Click Yes 

o   Click Close 

Note: At this stage you will not be able to make any further changes to the Deployment Share. However Operating System Deployment although not recommended should still be possible.

Installing Microsoft ADK Windows 8.1 Update 1

o   Run the adksetup.exe as an Administrator 

o   Click Next 

o   Click Next 

o   Click Accept 

o   For a Basic Installation Please Choose the Following Options Exclusively

§  Deployment Tools

§  Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE)

§  Microsoft SQL Express 2012

§  Click Install 

§  Click Close 

·         Upgrade the MDT 2012 Application to MDT 2013

o   Double click on the previously downloaded MDT 2013 MSI 

o   Click Next 

o   Check the Box ‘I accept the terms in the License Agreement’ and click Next 

o   Click Next 

o   Click Next 

o   Click Install 

o   Click Finish 

Upgrade the Deployment Share

o   Open the Deployment Workbench 

o   Open the Deployment Share Node 

o   Click on your Deployment Share and you should get the following message 

o   Right Click on your Deployment Share and choose Upgrade Deployment Share 

o   Click Next 

o   Click Finish 

o   If all went well you should get all your folders back exactly where you left off 

o   Right Click on your Deployment Share Choose Update Deployment Share 

o   Choose Completely Regenerate the boot Images and click Next 

o   Click Next

o   Click Finish

Add Your Boot Images to the Windows Deployment Server

·         Open the Windows Deployment Server Console 

o   Open the Servers Node

o   Open Your Server Node 

o   Delete any Pre-Existing MDT Boot Images

o   Right click on Boot Images and Choose Add Boot Image…

o   Enter the path to your boot image and click Next

o   Click Next 

o   Click Next 

 

Managing Multiple MDT Servers

Although MDT is meant for small to midsize business it is capable of providing Enterprise level solutions, one of which is maintaining unity between multiple site deployment. As well as allowing each of these sites to be managed by a single console.

Recently I got asked by a client is it possible for me to build another deployment share at a different site via LAN based replication. After a moments thought I said sure and today I will be demonstrate how the easy way.

Prerequisites:

1.     Any Computer with any Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 or better unless you require PXE in which case I firmly recommend Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 or better

2.     Depending on your Operating System Deployment needs between 2-8 GB RAM (I recommend 8 GB)

3.     Two hard disks one for the operating system and applications, the second for the Deployment Share.

4.     A Network connection to the same network where your existing deployment server exists

5.     Access to the DHCP

For the sake of this blog I have already installed another server on my network and installed the following applications...

Applications:

1.     Microsoft Assesment and Deployment Toolkit 8.1

2.     Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013

Features:

1.     Windows Deployment Server

2.     DHCP

3.     DNS

Preparing the Destination Server

1.     Join the Destination Server to the domain (It must be a member of the domain in order to use DNS and WDS

2.     Assign it a static IP Address

3.     Add an IP Helper for the appropriate segment.

4.     Create a new folder on the your secondary drive called Deployment Share

5.     Right Click on the Folder and Choose Properties 

6.     On the Share tab click on the Advanced Sharing button 

7.     Check the Check Box for Share this folder and add a Dollar sign to your share name to make it hidden 

8.     Click on the Permissions button

9.     Click on Add 

10. Enter Domain Admins and click on check names 

11. Add Full Control for Domain Admins and click Apply 

Plan for the Replication

On your Destination Server:

 

1. Open the Microsoft Deployment Toolset Console 

1. 2.       Navigate to the Advanced Configuration Node 

1. 3.       Choose the Linked Deployment Shares Node 

1. 4.       Right Click on the Linked Deployment Share and Choose New Linked Deployment Share 

1. 5.       Enter either the IP address or the FQDN of your server and your full Deployment Share Name and click Next 

1. 6.       Click Next 

1. 7.       Click Finish 

1. 8.       On your newly created Linked Deployment Share right click and choose Replicate Content 

1. 9.       When the replication has completed click Finish to close the window 

Congratulations you should now have successfully replicated the content of your Deployment Share!

As usual I welcome and encourage any comments or questions.