Task Sequences – Explained

From who cames from Windows XP unattended installations, the new Vista deployment features mais seem a little strange, confusing and scary! That happened to me…
But, that was before having some readiness of the BDD 2007/Microsoft Deployment documents. Now I’m a little less confused.

One of the first things that made my head go around was the Task Sequencer. I’ve never worked with SMS but who did, told me it was something similar to what we call today Microsoft Deployment tools.

Now, here it’s some info that I’ve extrated fromDeployment_Customization_Guide.doc about the task sequences that are set by default when you install MS Deployment:

The Microsoft Deployment process occurs in phases that are defined in the TS.xml file. Task Sequencer parses the TS.xml file to identify the appropriate sequence for performing the deployment process. The phases defined in the TS.xml file include:

Validate Phase
Performs validation checks to make sure that the operating system installation can proceed; specifically blocks installation on server operating systems.

State Capture Phase
Gathers information from the configuration file, databases, and the local machine to determine how the image installation process should proceed, including whether there is enough space to do a local USMT state backup. The scripts also invoke the USMT Scanstate.exe command as appropriate.

Preinstall Phase
Confirms that the necessary information has been gathered in the State Capture Phase for the Refresh Computer and Upgrade Computer scenarios. In the New Computer and Replace Computer scenarios, the script gathers the necessary information in this phase because these scenarios do not perform the State Capture Phase. Also, a backup of the computer can be optionally performed for the Refresh Computer and Upgrade Computer scenarios.

Install Phase
Installs the target operating system on the target computers.

Post Install Phase
Updates the Sysprep.inf file, Sysprep.xml file, or Unattend.txt file with information gathered in the previous custom actions based on the operating system being deployed.

State Restore Phase
Invokes the USMT Loadstate.exe command to restore the user state that was previously backed up.

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