Adding drivers to Preboot Configurations, DeployAnywhere, or DriverManager in DS 8.x

Products

• Deployment Solution
• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

How to add drivers to Preboot Configurations, DeployAnywhere, or DriverManager in DS 8.x?

Environment

Deployment Solution 8.x

ITMS 8.x

Resolution

Deployment Solution 8.x comes with a relatively small subset of drivers for a majority of known systems at the time of release, but is nowhere near comprehensive for driver support, and for obvious reasons, will not include drivers that have come out post product release.  Additionally, we only include NIC and Mass Storage in the release product, for this is the most important set of drivers needed for imaging.  However, because Deploy Anywhere (DA) also supports Video, Audio, and essentially any other driver that can be used you may want to augment our driver database for a number of reasons.

The following discusses how to add drivers:

Option 1: Import drivers via the Console.

1. In the console, go to Settings\Deployment\Driver Management.
2. There are two tabs on this screen: DeployAnywhere and Preboot.   Select the tab of your choice.
   1. The Preboot tab (often overlooked) adds drivers to preboot environments and does essentially the same thing as adding drivers manually into BootWiz 
   2. Both tabs write drivers directly to the file system by copying them into custom folders directly.  No compilation occurs until they are bundled into the preboot environment.
3. Add each driver one at a time and be sure they're added to the list.
   • NOTE: All versions and types of drivers are included here (Linux and WinPE) but that the column headings can be clicked on to sort the various columns.  For example, you might sort first on name by clicking that column heading, and then type by clicking on that one, and then look for your driver.

Option 2: Run bootwiz from 'C:\Program Files\Altiris\Deployment\BDC\bootwiz'

 

C:\Program Files\Altiris\Deployment\BDC\bootwiz

Run bootwiz.exe and follow the prompts.

 

After Import, Rebuild Automation:

Now, to get the SBS server to actually pick up the change, BootWiz has to recompile WinPE on the server (and all site servers which have been updated. To accomplish this, you will need to perform a few more tasks:

1. In the console, go to Settings | Deployment | Manage Preboot Configurations
2. Highlight the menu option you would like to recreate and select 'Recreate Preboot Environment'. (Do not click the 'Save changes' button pre 8.5 RU3)
3. Boot Disk Creator will run on the server, recreating the configuration with the added drivers. While it is running:
   • Bootwiz.exe will show as an active process on the Windows Task Manager