Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
Deployment tool for Windows operating systems
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT; originally released as Business Desktop Deployment in August 2003[2][3]) is a discontinued free software package from Microsoft for automating the deployment of Windows 10, Server 2019 and older Windows Server and desktop operating systems.[4][5]
| MDT (Microsoft Deployment Toolkit) | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Initial release | August 2003 |
| Stable release | Build 8456 (6.3.8456.1000)
/ 25 January 2019[1] |
| Operating system | |
| Platform | x86 and x64[1] |
| Size | 20 MB[1] |
| Available in | English[1] |
| Type | System software |
| License | Freeware[1] |
| Website | www |
Overview
MDT can help build an automated installation source for deploying Windows operating systems from Windows 7, Windows 10 and Windows Server 2008 onwards, from either a single machine or a central server distribution tool, such as Windows Deployment Services (WDS) or System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM).[6] Device drivers, Windows updates and software can be included with the build.[7][6]
All the software intended for installation (Operating System, drivers, updates and applications) are added to a pool of available software and packaged into deployment packages.[8] The Operating System and drivers to be included with this package are selected, and the administrator password, owner information, and product key are specified.[6][8][9] Microsoft Deployment Toolkit generates a custom Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment) image that allows client machines to install the assembled deployment packages over the network from the MDT server.[8][9] This Windows PE disk image can be burned to and booted from a CD, or booted with Windows Deployment Services. When selecting the package to deploy, software that has been included in the pool may also be selected for installation.[6]
Operation
The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) supports three types of deployments:[6] Zero Touch Installation (ZTI), Lite Touch Installation (LTI), and User Driven Installation (UDI). ZTI is a fully automated deployment scheme in which installation requires no user interaction whatsoever.[9] UDI deployments require full manual intervention to respond to every installation prompt, such as machine name, password or language setting.[10] ZTI and UDI deployments both require a Microsoft System Center infrastructure.[6] ZTI deployments require a persistent network connection to the distribution point.[9] LTI deployments require limited user interaction. An LTI deployment needs very little infrastructure, so it can be installed from a network share, or media using either a USB flash drive or an optical disc.[8]
See also
- Remote Installation Services
- Microsoft Configuration Manager (formerly known as Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM), System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) or SMS)
- User State Migration Tool
- Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) (previously known as Windows Automated Installation Kit)
- Windows Deployment Services
- Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE)