Understanding the DS 8.x Policies and how should they be configured

Products

• Deployment Solution

Issue/Introduction

This article explains what the DS 8.x Policies are and how should they be configured.

Environment

ITMS 8.x

DS 8.x

Resolution

In the SMP Console under Settings > All Settings > Settings > Agent/Plug-ins > Deployment you'll see:

1. Deployment Automation Folder for Windows (x86/x64) - Install.  -- Optional --  This depends on if you'll be using PXE at a location or not.  These folders are an alternative for PXE/SBS and allow your computers to boot to automation without using PXE and the associated bandwidth, which can be a very good option for production systems.  However, the folders can also cause some minor issues with XP systems or systems with unique partitioning (i.e. OEM or other multi-boot partitions).
2. Deployment Automation Folder for Windows (x86/x64) - Uninstall.  -- Recommended Disabled --  If enabled with #1 above, this can cause a looping condition of installing, uninstalling, etc.
3. Deployment Plug-in for Windows (x86/x64) - Install.  -- Recommended Enabled --  Required for any Deployment tasks on your systems
4. Deployment Plug-in for Windows (x86/x64) - Uninstall.  -- Recommended Disabled --  If enabled with #3 above, this can cause a looping condition of installing, uninstalling, etc.
5. Deployment Plug-in for Windows (x86/x64)  - Upgrade.  -- Recommended Enabled --  To ensure your clients have the latest code.  Older agents can cause unforseen issues and it's best to keep your agents up-to-date with your server.
6. Deployment Task Server Components (x86/x64) - Install.  -- Recommended Enabled --  Required for proper functioning of Deployment tasks.  This installs SBS and the Deployment Share.  The latter is required even if you are not using PXE.
7. Deployment Task Server Components (x86/x64) - Uninstall.  -- Recommended Disabled --  If enabled with #6 above, can cause a looping condition of installing, uninstalling, etc.
8. Deployment Task Server Components (x86/x64) - Upgrade.  -- Recommended Enabled --  To ensure your site servers have the latest code.  Older agents can cause unforeseen issues and it's best to keep your agents up-to-date with your server.
9. Deployment Package Server Components - Install.  -- Recommended Enabled --  Required for deploying imagines over HTTP(s) and when Package Server is installed on Site Servers
10. Deployment Package Server Components -Uninstall.  -- Recommended Disabled --  If enabled may run into issues with the distribution of Images
11. Deployment Package Server Components - Upgrade.  -- Recommended Enabled --  To ensure the site servers have the latest code. Older agents can cause unforeseen issues and it's best to keep your agents up-to-date with your server.
    Note: Starting with ITMS 8.7.3, these policies "Deployment Package Server Components - Install" and "Deployment Package Server Components - Upgrade" are not longer available. See "After upgrade to ITMS 8.7.3, "Deployment Package Server Components - Upgrade" and "Install" policies are not available/visible"

In the SMP Console under Under Settings > Notification Server > Site Server Settings > Site Servers > <Site Server> > Install/removes services you'll see:

1. Network Boot Service -- Recommended Installation -- 
   
   

In the SMP Console under Under Settings > Deployment > NBS Global Settings you'll see the following:

In the SMP Console under Under Settings > Deployment > NBS Global Settings you'll see the following:

1. PXE Server Configuration  -- Recommended Enabled 
   NOTE:  You must click "Save Changes" on this page in DS 8.x for this policy to be enabled correctly.  Also toggle 'Apply NBS settings immediately' within the policy
   
   

In the SMP Console under Settings > Deployment you'll see the followiing options:

In the SMP Console under Settings > All Settings > Deployment you'll see the following options: