User's Manual

14 Introduction
What’s New
The new features for DTK version 3.0 include:
• Support for new Dell systems
NOTE: For the list of Dell systems supported for this version of DTK, see the
readme.txt file in the root folder, or the Dell Systems Software Support Matrix
on the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD or on the
Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
• Support for new CLI commands. See Dell OpenManage Deployment
Toolkit Command Line Interface Reference Guide
for more information.
• Support for solid state drives.
Prerequisites and Requirements
The DTK is a collection of Windows PE- and Linux-based utilities and scripts
that assist in performing pre-operating system tasks and deploying Dell
systems. An advanced knowledge of Windows PE and Linux is required for
users who want to use the DTK utilities to perform pre-operating system
configuration tasks or to run a scripted deployment in the respective
environments.
A pre-operating system environment is defined as the environment used to
configure system hardware before a major operating system, such as Windows
or Linux, is installed. The DTK utilities and scripts, for example, are executed
in a Windows PE or embedded Linux environment for hardware configuration.
Because of the open nature of the utilities and scripts and the environment in
which they can be used, it is strongly recommended that DTK users have an
advanced understanding of the Windows PE and Linux environment and scripting
knowledge for the respective environments. DTK users with an advanced
understanding of Windows PE and Linux can take full advantage of the utilities
and exploit their capabilities above and beyond what the sample scripts can
provide.
CAUTION: Some of the DTK utilities can destroy data if used incorrectly. To avoid
the potential risk of data loss, take all necessary precautions to protect data so that
mission-critical systems are not disrupted in the unlikely event of a failure. See the
Deployment Toolkit Command Line Interface Reference Guide for complete
information about the capabilities of each DTK utility.