Windows 2008 Deployment Tools

By Technology Last updated Wednesday, April/24/2024

Server 2008 deployment tools help you install Windows on local and remote computers.Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Windows Server 2008 is a Microsoft operating system for server environments that replaces Windows Server 2003. Windows Server 2008 R2 is an updated version of the original Windows Server 2008 OS, and it is also the latest version of this OS as of 2010. If you plan on deploying Windows Server 2008 on your system, some tools can help you with this process.

MDT

The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Update 1 allows you to deploy the following programs on your computer systems: Windows Server 2003, Server 2008, Server 2008 R2, XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Office 2010. This tool allows you to automate the deployment process on computer workstations and servers, and you can perform unattended installations with the Zero Touch Installation tool. The purpose of this tool is to quickly deploy an operating system across multiple computers and servers, and you can also create customized deployments with the User Driven Installation wizard. The MDT 2010 Update 1 toolkit will also identify the supported platforms for drivers, cutting down on installation time or problems. This is a free toolkit that you can download from the Microsoft Download Center, and it is for deployment specialists and IT administrators.

The Windows Deployment Services allow you to deploy Windows 2008 or 2008 R2 on remote computers within your company's network. A remote computer is a computer that you can manipulate from your local computer but cannot physically access because another end user is making use of it. The WDS tool eliminates the need to upload the operating system from the CD or DVD that came with the program. This tool is specifically for IT administrators, planners, deployment specialists, analysts and designers. The WDS tool is a free tool that you can download from the Microsoft Download Center.

nLite is a program that helps you prepare your computer system for deployment, and it allows you reconfigure Windows settings and remove certain Windows components that you don't want installed. You can also use this tool for unattended deployment, adding Windows Service Packs to your setup configurations and adding updates and drivers to the installation. You can run nLite from a bootable disc, which runs during your computer's startup phase. This program uses a graphical user interface, which allows you to run commands and tasks using radio buttons and check boxes as opposed to writing code. This is a free program that you can download from the nLite website.