Device Manager 2011 extends the capabilities of Configuration Manager to let you deploy a new or updated operating system image to thin client, POS, and digital signage devices (a process referred to as device imaging). You can perform device imaging on one device or on a collection of devices using the Configuration Manager console. To do this, you must integrate the following components into your Configuration Manager installation:

• Device imaging solution: A software solution created by the device manufacturer that handles requests to deploy operating system images onto devices. For more information, see the Embedded Device Manager 2011 SDK on MSDN and documentation from the device manufacturer.
  
• Device imaging component: Software created by the device manufacturer that implements a COM or DCOM interface to the Device Manager 2011 Device Imaging service, and that handles communication between the Device Imaging service and the device imaging solution. For more information, see the Embedded Device Manager 2011 SDK on MSDN and documentation provided with the device imaging component.
  
• Device Imaging service: One of the three components installed during Device Manager 2011 server installation, this service manages communication between the device imaging component and Device Manager 2011. The topics in this section discuss how to work with the Device Imaging service using Configuration Manager console.
  

After these components are integrated, you can use the Device Manager 2011 extensions to the Configuration Manager console user interface (UI) to create a device imaging deployment. Creating a deployment is like creating a new advertisement. The deployment starts a device imaging request at the time you specify when you create the deployment. The device imaging request automatically performs device imaging on all devices that fit the criteria to receive the image (as determined by the device imaging solution or device imaging component). The device imaging process will finish on its own or you can choose to suspend or end (terminate) the device imaging request. If devices that fit the criteria to receive the image are added to the network after the device imaging request starts, device imaging may take longer than expected in order to perform device imaging on the new devices.

Before you begin a device imaging task, make sure that you have the appropriate permissions to perform the task. For more information, see Managing Security Using Device Manager 2011.