UIU Blog

In the December issue of the Imaging Insights Newsletter, we predicted that the Microsoft Deployment Tool (MDT) would see an explosion of usage in 2013 as companies phase out XP and begin to adopt Windows 7/8. It's still early in the year, but our prediction is proving accurate so far. Some administrators have already been using MDT for their system deployment and image creation, and with the recent enhancements that make it more reliable and easier to use, the free utility's usefulness continues to grow.   

New MDT features

Perhaps the most visible improvement to MDT is the new Monitoring node, which lets administrators view the progress of Lite-Touch deployments. This is great news for anyone whose processes don't involve systems management frameworks, such as Systems Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). The monitored information updates every 10 seconds, and it includes the step that's currently being performed and how long the deployment has taken so far.

There's also good news for those who do use SCCM: MDT now fully integrates with SCCM 2012, resulting in a powerful combination for administrators who need more control over their enterprise-wide environment, and more granularity in systems checks and reporting. MDT also aids admins who support user-driven installations. With the new Build Your Own Pages functionality, end users have an easy, drag-and-drop tool to help them create wizards without coding.

The improved MDT also integrates boot images with the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset 7.0 (DaRT), giving administrators even more options when using a Light-Touch CD image to boot a system. MDT now supports the DaRT 8 Beta, too.

Other enhancements include improved image deployments when booting from VHD, support for PowerShell 3.0, full integration with System Center Orchestrator, and entirely revised Roles and Features logic that supports installation and removal.

Microsoft has continues to make improvements to MDT, showing a pretty good example to the industry of how enhancing a performance tool should be done. The UIU Support and Development team loves tools like MDT because it makes life a little easier for IT administrators. It's that goal of simplifying the process that drives us in the first place.

Any other enhancements to MDT that have caught your eye? Plans to migrate to MDT?