Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

MDT (Microsoft Deployment Toolkit)

Developer(s)	Microsoft
Initial release	August 2003 (2003-08)
Stable release	Build 8456 (6.3.8456.1000) / 25 January 2019; 6 years ago (2019-01-25)[1]
Operating system	Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7
Platform	x86 and x64[1]
Size	20 MB[1]
Available in	English[1]
Type	System software
License	Freeware[1]
Website	www.microsoft.com/deployment

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT; originally released as Business Desktop Deployment in August 2003[2][3]) is a free software package from Microsoft for automating the deployment of Windows 10, Server 2019 and older Windows Server and desktop operating systems.[4]

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).[5] Device drivers, Windows updates and software can be included with the build.[6][5]

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.[7] The Operating System and drivers to be included with this package are selected, and the administrator password, owner information, and product key are specified.[5][7][8] 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.[7][8] 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.[5]

Operation

The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) supports three types of deployments:[5] 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.[8] UDI deployments require full manual intervention to respond to every installation prompt, such as machine name, password or language setting.[9] ZTI and UDI deployments both require a Microsoft System Center infrastructure.[5] ZTI deployments require a persistent network connection to the distribution point.[8] 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.[7]

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)

References

1. "Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Download Page". Microsoft.
2. Niehaus, Michael (22 Jan 2008). "A concise history of BDD". Retrieved 27 Mar 2021.
3. "Deploying fully patched Windows 10 computers: A guide for IT pros". TechGenix. 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
4. Vigo, Jesus (July 5, 2016). "How to set up Microsoft Deployment Toolkit: Step by step". TechRepublic. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
5. "Microsoft (August 2012). Using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit". Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
6. Sharwood, Simon. "Microsoft automates Office 365 installs". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
7. "Microsoft (August 2012). Quick Start Guide for Lite Touch Installation". Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
8. "Microsoft (August 2012). Quick Start Guide for Configuration Manager 2012". Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
9. "Microsoft (August 2012). Quick Start Guide for User Driven Installation". Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2013-02-17.

External links

• Official website