Users Guide

Deployment
DTK oers a complete set of utilities, sample scripts, and RPM packages that can be used to automate deployment on large numbers of
Dell systems. This guide is designed to help you through some of the most basic planning considerations, logistical preparations, and
deployment procedures to get you started using DTK to deploy Dell systems.
A well-thought-out deployment plan is critical to the success of your deployment eort and includes the following considerations:
• Assessing your existing IT environment
• Selecting an operating system
• Selecting the optimum Dell OpenManage systems management software conguration for your system
• Choosing a deployment method
DTK is exible enough to t into almost any deployment plan.
DTK components can be used in many dierent ways to assist IT sta in deploying Dell systems in large numbers. Because all the tools and
scripts are task-oriented, many of them can be used separately to perform a specic task on many systems or collectively to perform many
tasks on many systems at once. For information on the deployment methods, see Running The Deployment Scripts.
Deployment matrix
Depending on the scope, current business needs, network setup, and process, you can select any of the suggested methods of
deployment.
Table 7. Deployment Method Matrix
Deployment Methods Complexity Advantages Disadvantages
Local deployment (bootable
media)
Relatively simple
• Necessary if a network
connection is not available or
is too slow.
• Can install supported
Windows operating systems.
• Can install to support for the
Linux operating systems.
• Any change requires the
creation of a new
bootable media.
• Limited space on media for
some operating system
installation les.
• Deployment tasks must be
performed at the individual
target system.
• Media are read-only and
requires the creation of a
RAMDISK for temporary data
storage.
• Installation time is high.
Remote deployment over a
network (bootable Windows
PE or Linux media with
network stack loaded)
Moderate
• Everything is in 1 place in a
network share.
• Easy to manage — changes
can be made in a single
location.
• Data captured (proles) can
be stored in a network share.
• Data can be replicated from a
network share.
• Can install supported
Windows or Linux operating
systems.
• Must have network
connection.
• Deployment tasks must be
performed at the individual
target system.
• Must locate the appropriate
Windows PE or embedded
Linux network drivers.
• Not supported from a mapped
NetWare system.
Pre-requisites and deployment 19