• Distribution point that supports PXE deployments.
  
  
• Windows Deployment Services installation.
  
  
• Firewall port configuration.
  
  

• This method works well when no user is present at the destination computer and for data center environments.
  
  
• You can associate users with the destination computer to support user-centric management.
  
  

• Optional PXE deployments require user intervention.
  
  
• DHCP considerations when the DHCP server is installed on the same server as the PXE-enabled distribution point.
  
  

Planning for PXE-Initiated Operating System Deployments in Configuration Manager

• Appropriate image architecture must be available on a distribution point that Configuration Manager clients can access.
  
  

• Works well for bare metal operating system deployment scenarios (no operating system is installed).
  
  
• You can associate users with the destination computer to support user-centric management.
  
  
• As a security best practice, you can protect the media with a strong password.
  
  

• Requires a physical presence at the destination computer.
  
  

Plan How to Use Bootable Media

How to Create Bootable Media

• Media set of USB flash drive, CD, or DVD that contains the necessary installation files.
  
  

• Use this method for computers that connect to Configuration Manager by using a low bandwidth connection.
  
  
• Computers do not require a connection to the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site.
  
  
• As a security best practice, you can protect the media with a strong password.
  
  

• All files required for the installation must be contained on the media.
  
  
• All device drivers required for the installation must be on the media.
  
  
• You cannot set an expiration date on the media.
  
  

Plan How to Use Stand-alone Media

How to Create Stand-alone Media

• Computers must be able to access an appropriate image architecture on a distribution point.
  
  
• Boot image must have the network and mass storage drivers that computers require to complete the deployment process.
  
  

• Supports the preloading of the operating system image and boot image, which is suitable for a factory or a staging center.
  
  
• Speeds up the onsite deployment time.
  
  
• Works with current task sequences to provide up-to-date deployments.
  
  
• As a best practice, you can password-protect the media for security purposes.
  
  
• You can associate users with the destination computer to support user-centric management.
  
  

• You must connect to a Configuration Manager site to create the media.
  
  
• The destination computer can be used only at the same Configuration Manager site where the media was created.
  
  

Plan How to Use Prestaged Media

How to Create Prestaged Media

• State migration point site role.
  
  
• You must create a computer association between the source and destination computer.
  
  

• When you use the state migration point role, the user state can be saved to another computer and then restored to the new computer.
  
  

• State migration point must have sufficient hard disk space to store the user state data.
  
  

How to Manage the User State in Configuration Manager

• Destination computer must be a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager client.
  
  

• You can deploy an operating system image without creating additional media.
  
  

• The client computer must have a connection to a Configuration Manager site.
  
  
• Destination computers must be Configuration Manager clients.
  
  

Planning for Deploying Operating System Images in Configuration Manager