Capturing Windows 7 x86 RTM image for test deployments!

Tonight, captured an image of my base build for Windows 7 RTM deployments on the x86 platform.  Now we learn the ins and outs of deploying Win7, what differences there are from Vista, and ultimately performing system refreshes from XP pro to Win7 Professional or Enterprise.

Also need to test my application installs on the image.  But so far, looks good.  Exciting to have the image creation process working so the real playtime can begin!  Also, on a side note, Windows 7 installs pretty darned fast!  Cannot wait to put this on actual hardware to see what it can do!

Continued buildout of the MDT 2010 test environment.  Flexible and powerful, an amazing release, in my opinion.

Lab Environment Operational!

Setting up the lab environment has been fun, exciting and somewhat challenging!  Here are the basic steps:

1. Install Virtual PC 2007
2. Configure for Windows Server OS of your choice.  I went with 2003 for now.
3. Install and patch Window Server OS.  Patches are important.
4. Set static IP outside the range being handed out by DHCP.
1. Fix Linksys router so it is not handing out DHCP, let the DSL modem/router handle DHCP (this is a little networking thing I found while working on the OS install)
5. DCPromo!
6. Configure DNS for home network with forward and reverse lookup zones.

The second VPC system is a bit easier.

1. Configure VPC 2007 for the guest OS.
2. Install and patch guest OS.
3. Set static IP outside the range being handed out by DHCP.
4. Test name resolution between the new guest OS and the Domain Controller.  If everything works…
5. Join the domain!

This second system has become the MDT deployment system.  This way, if I break something, I don’t have to totally rebuild my little virtual domain, just restore to a working backup of the VHD or reinstall the OS and rejoin the domain.  It has been simple to add another client to the system using the static IPs available for my network. 

Next topic:  My To Do list for stuff I want to figure out.

Now you can be the Local Computer Expert!

XKCD, one of the more amusing webcomics, has posted the super secret computer technician IT flow chart.  Check it out here!

Original comic strip here.

Learning Curve

Starting with something new is often quite interesting, challenging.  Now, trying to start doing this newfangled blog thing, running Windows 7 and trying to pick up scripting/programming is going to bring this to a whole.  Notha.  Level.

The goal will be to tell the story and share the lessons here.  And maybe even let a little of the home and work life spill over.  Its a blog, right?  This is supposed to be a journal of sorts, right?

So, with that, here we go!

1. At work I deal primarily with desktop support, though there is one project in particular that is particularly thrilling to work on.  The MDT 2008 deployment environment!  For the uninitiated, that’s the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008.  What does it do?  Pure awesome!  We are able to deploy Windows XP SP3 systems in about 30 minutes from start to finish.  Ready to be joined to the domain and handed to the user.  Impressive, no?  Yes!  Well, there are some fun new features in Vista, Windows 7, Server 2008 and the upcoming MDT2010 that would be great to learn outside a production environment, so that leads to…
   
1. Creating a virtual computer lab to play with this environment.  Complete with Domain Controller, DNS server, MDT server, etc.  Well, really anything.
2. Build out a new environment.  Ultimately creating a DVD deployment would be awesome, so refreshing the home PCs is easier.  Nice side benefit of this particular little project.
   
2. Again, doing desk side support has given me a burning desire to script the repetitive, mundane and cumbersome tasks the technicians encounter on a daily, or at least weekly basis.  It would also be nice to include some new scripting knowledge and experience into the MDT environment at the office.   What kind of scripting?  Glad you asked!
   
1. WSH and VBScript would probably be good starters.  Since this language is already part of Windows XP and Server 2003.
2. Powershell, as it becomes more integrated into the Windows releases.
   
3. Start a blog, and see where it goes from there.

These are the goals being set right now.  The environment is being built up in VPC2007 now.  The adventure and learning begins!

Ubuntu 8.10 Rascally Rabbit?

Okay, so I know the naming scheme for Ubuntu is on the Rs yet, but its what I think about whenever I look at the versioning.

I have a Rosewill R912E display and nVidia graphics card. It has this annoying problem whereupon installing a fresh Ubuntu displays a 'Input Not Supported' floating box to the refresh rate on the X server configuration being wrong about my display.

Turns out this problem is twofold.

1) Disable Full GPU Scaling
Add this to the Xorg.conf file in /etc/X11/: Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling = Native"
2) Make the change to the refresh rate outside of the nVidia control panel. Go to System -> Preferences -> Screen Resolution and set the refresh rate inside the proper range.

I'm still working out some details. It seems this time around my display is not recognized.

That's one large annoyance resolved somewhat easily now. And noted for all posterity!

Otherwise, Ubuntu is once again taking up residence on my second hard drive. It made way for the Windows 7 beta for a while, but I grew tired of just having IE up and not really doing much other than refreshing MSN.com or google news.