LTI Deployment

The Lite-Touch, High-Volume Deployment strategy is for medium-sized organizations that have an information technology (IT) staff and sometimes use partners to help with technology adoption. Organizations that use this strategy have 200–500 client computers and at least one location with more than 25 users. They usually have managed networks in distributed locations that are running Windows Server.Medium-sized organizations often assemble their own deployment solutions by using the tools and technologies that Microsoft provides for the Windows operating system. These solutions typically include combinations of answer files, scripts, the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK), and so on.Such organizations can benefit from the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010, which is a solution accelerator that is available at no cost. MDT 2010 contains thousands of lines of code that were developed by Microsoft employees, partners, and customers. You can use this code to provide a deployment framework for Windows operating systems, which enables you to focus on your business, not on programming. About the Strategy Customers can use MDT 2010 for Lite-Touch deployments or Zero-Touch deployments. For medium-sized organizations that lack the necessary infrastructure for Zero-Touch deployments, Lite-Touch deployment is the best choice. Using MDT 2010 for a Lite-Touch deployment requires no more infrastructure than most medium-sized organizations already have (a file server is the only infrastructure requirement).Using MDT 2010 for the Lite-Touch, High-Volume Deployment strategy streamlines deployment and reduces support costs by providing a more consistent configuration with fewer support calls—all without requiring a significant investment in infrastructure.Benefits of using MDT 2010 with the Lite-Touch, High-Volume Deployment strategy include: Fewer problems, because configurations are consistent across all client computers. Easier deployment, because MDT 2010 handles application, device driver, and update installation. Streamlined maintenance, because updating applications, device drivers, and updates is easy. NoteMDT 2010 supports thin and thick imaging. Thin imaging refers to deploying a Windows image with little or no customization, and then automatically or manually installing applications, device drivers, and updates on each client computer. Thick imaging refers to customizing an image with applications, device drivers, and updates before deploying it.We recommend using thin images because it helps reduce maintenance time and costs. MDT 2010 makes using thin images with the Lite-Touch, High-Volume Deployment strategy easy. In fact, this strategy advocates thin images. Strategy Requirements The following elements are required to use the Lite-Touch, High-Volume Deployment strategy: Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Volume-licensed (VL) media provided by Microsoft MDT 2010 Windows User State Migration Toolkit (USMT) Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Windows AIK File server on which to store the distribution share One of the following: Media with which to start client computers during deployment A server configured with the Windows Deployment Services role Strategy Limitations The Lite-Touch, High-Volume Deployment strategy doesn’t have any significant limitations for medium-sized organizations, although it does require limited interaction at the beginning of installation. As medium-sized organizations mature, however, they can easily extend MDT 2010 to provide a nearly zero-touch experience by doing nothing more than configuring a database and deploying the Windows Deployment Services role. Eliminating user interaction with the deployment process by automating application installation and operating system configuration helps reduce deployment and support costs.

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