Altiris RapiDeploy Imaging from a USB Storage Device

Introduction

This white paper provides steps for editing or creating a post configuration task after imaging an HP thin

client from a USB flash drive.

Altiris RapiDeploy image deployment can help you automate maintenance of the integrity and customiza-

tion of all thin clients in a corporate environment. Thin clients connected from remote locations with limited

bandwidth, as well as thin clients that are not connected at all, require maintenance with updated

images; however, this maintenance requires that you perform additional procedures. To help with the

image maintenance process on these machines, this document outlines the process to image thin clients

using an Altiris RapiDeploy image and perform the proper post configuration from a USB flash device.

Post configuration is an important process to ensure the system has unique information such as network

name and IP address. Although this document outlines the steps to image and post-configure from a boot-

able USB flash device, you can use the same process for most removable media types, such as a CD-

ROM.

NOTE: Not all USB flash drives support bootability or support it in the same way, so you should test your

devices before using.

Prerequisites

The following sections outline the creation of the bootable USB flash device, execution of the imaging pro-

cess, and modification of the image file. These procedures require the following:

• Create an image with Altiris RapiDeploy using the procedure outlined in the “Creating and Restoring

Images on the HP Compaq Thin Client t57x0 with Altiris Deployment Server” at:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00260954/c00260954.pdf

• Ensure the bootable USB flash device is on the HP supported list.

• Have the Windows 98 DOS boot disk available.

Preparing the USB storage device

The following steps make the USB storage device bootable and create an Altiris configuration file:

1. Insert the supported USB storage device into the USB port of the machine with the HP USB Disk Stor-

age Format Utility installed.

2. Run the Format Utility from Start > Programs > Hewlett Packard Company > HP USB Disk

Storage Format Tool.

3. Make sure the device listed is the USB storage device inserted in step 1.

4. Select Create a DOS startup disk and type the location of the Microsoft Windows 98 DOS files.

5. Click Start. After the format completes, you can close the utility. The USB storage device is now boot-

able.