deployment

jamesbrown

Guys, i m used to deploying windows 7 and vista using WDS - 4-5gig image. What are the fastest way to deploy such a hugh file over the network? There are other ways I can accomplish this in like 30-40minutes?

thanks.
James

WafflesAndRootbeer

jamesbrown wrote: »

Guys, i m used to deploying windows 7 and vista using WDS - 4-5gig image. What are the fastest way to deploy such a hugh file over the network? There are other ways I can accomplish this in like 30-40minutes?

thanks.
James

Install from USB media (preferably SSD or flash drive) or dual-layer DVD if possible. It will install a heck of a lot faster from either of those than it ever will over your network. I've done several dozen PCs at a time with those methods.

jamesbrown

WafflesAndRootbeer wrote: »

Install from USB media (preferably SSD or flash drive) or dual-layer DVD if possible. It will install a heck of a lot faster from either of those than it ever will over your network. I've done several dozen PCs at a time with those methods.

Cool. I will give that a try. Thank you.

the_Grinch

I use to use Ghost and multicast to do 30 to 40 workstations at a time. No slowdown on the network....

jamesbrown

SCCM takes 2 hours for one PC.

FloOz

sccm is what we use at my work. does take a ton of time tho

jamesbrown

We just have to suck it up. Wow.

demonfurbie

i deploy via fileshare with a copy of winpe on a usb drive

ptilsen

WafflesAndRootbeer wrote: »

Install from USB media (preferably SSD or flash drive) or dual-layer DVD if possible. It will install a heck of a lot faster from either of those than it ever will over your network. I've done several dozen PCs at a time with those methods.

This is incorrect.

USB 2.0 = 480mbps
DVD 24x = 256mbps

GbE = 1000mbps
7.2K RPM hard disk at 100MB/s sustained read = 836mbps

As you can see, using a gigabit network with a single SATA drive is faster than USB or DVD. Having deployed images over RIS and WDS using 10K and 15K drives in RAID arrays and gigabit and teamed gigabit adapter, I can tell you it can be much, much faster than DVD or removable drive deployment methods. However, if your disk system or network are over-taxed, a DVD or USB flash device can be an improvement.

WDS does offer multicast deployment, which can significantly speed up installation time.

You have to consider the computing and network resources available, the amount of time you have, and the amount of human resources available in any image deployment scenario. Using removable media can be better/faster than network deployment in some cases, but it is inaccurate at best to think that removable media is inherently faster than the network.

Slowhand

the_Grinch wrote: »

I use to use Ghost and multicast to do 30 to 40 workstations at a time. No slowdown on the network....

I believe you can use multicasting with WDS too, can't you?

** Edit **

ptilsen wrote: »

WDS does offer multicast deployment, which can significantly speed up installation time.

And there's my answer.

humdingy02

I used plain old WinPE and imagex to roll out my Windows 7 image (a fairly simple install, a few misc programs plus Windows updates - about 4GB). It was a Gigabit connection to an EMC box a few switches away. It took 5, maybe 10 minutes to finish, probably averaging close to 6 minutes. That's after I blew out the drive with diskpart and mounted the image's folder.
I also used WinPE with the image on a flash drive for a few remote offices. It took slightly longer, but still less than 30-40 minutes.

Forsaken_GA

ptilsen wrote: »

GbE = 1000mbps
7.2K RPM hard disk at 100MB/s sustained read = 836mbps
You have to consider the computing and network resources available, the amount of time you have, and the amount of human resources available in any image deployment scenario. Using removable media can be better/faster than network deployment in some cases, but it is inaccurate at best to think that removable media is inherently faster than the network.

You are assuming a network that's being used for nothing else, correct? If you're trying to deploy this over the corporate network, especially one that converges data, video, and voice, the speeds are going to be just a bit slower.

However, having a separate gige network (or hell even standalone switch off the network) just for deployments is not a bad idea, depending on the scale or time sensitivity of your operation.

Zartanasaurus

SCCM + Multicast. Time depends mostly on the task sequence. No way it should be taking 2 hours.

jamesbrown

Zartanasaurus wrote: »

SCCM + Multicast. Time depends mostly on the task sequence. No way it should be taking 2 hours.

It takes about 2 hours at my company. It might just be the network. but, we are imaging from a local distribution point.

kriscamaro68

At the last company i works for SCCM deployments took about 1 1/2 hours but that included all the programs we where using which was quite a few and they where large programs as well. Where I am working at now I create the image I want with all programs/updates installed and then capture the image using winpe/imagex to a network share. I can then in turn apply the image using winpe/UFD to a computer in about 8 minutes. These files are usually 6-8gb in size. Is your network gigabit or still 10/100? Even at 10/100 you should still be able to do this in about 20-30 minutes or less.

jamesbrown

100. Ill try to do what you guys recommend.

ptilsen

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

You are assuming a network that's being used for nothing else, correct? If you're trying to deploy this over the corporate network, especially one that converges data, video, and voice, the speeds are going to be just a bit slower.

I'm assuming a lot in that example. My point was that network deployment can be much faster than removable media deployment, and to make the claim that "It will install a heck of a lot faster from either of those than it ever will over your network" is false.

Forsaken_GA

ptilsen wrote: »

I'm assuming a lot in that example. My point was that network deployment can be much faster than removable media deployment, and to make the claim that "It will install a heck of a lot faster from either of those than it ever will over your network" is false.

Well, certainly, if someone is saying that, they're being foolish for making absolute statements. Everything is relative these days.