Users Guide

Prerequisites and deployment

The Deployment ToolKit (DTK) is a collection of Windows PE and Linux-based utilities and scripts that

assist in performing operating system tasks and deployment on 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 and post-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 Microsoft Windows or Linux, is installed. DTK utilities and

scripts, for example, are executed in a Windows PE or 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 Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit

Command Line Interface Reference Guide available at dell.com/openmanagemanuals for

complete information about the capabilities of each DTK utility.

NOTE: For Microsoft WinPE and OS deployment support limitations refer to http://

technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824993.aspx

Supported systems

For a complete list of supported Dell PowerEdge systems, see the Dell Systems Software Support Matrix

in the required version of OpenManage Software at dell.com/openmanagemanuals.

Supported operating systems

DTK utilities support Windows PE 5.1 (64-bit), Windows PE 4.0 (64-bit), and Windows PE 3.0 (32-bit and

64-bit) to deploy the following operating systems in BIOS and UEFI mode:

• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit)

NOTE: On Dell's 13th generation and later PowerEdge servers, deployment of Microsoft

Windows Server 2008 SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit) is not supported.

• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1( 64-bit)

• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Foundation, Essentials, Standard, and Datacenter editions