Adding an Image to the Automation Folder

Products

• Client Management Suite
• Deployment Solution

Issue/Introduction

You have a slow connection and use Automation Folders to boot systems into Winpe. Is there a method to deploy an image directly on the endpoint without deploying it over the network?

Environment

Deployment Solution

Resolution

Instructions to add image file(s) to Automation Folder:

1. Deploy the automation folder to an endpoint
2. Copy the boot.wim file to your computer c:\boot\altiris\iso\sources\boot.wim
3. If you are using a Windows computer then it has already a built-in DISM command:
   • Take the boot.wim and mount it. Example:  Dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile: C:\path\to\bootwim\boot.wim /MountDir:C:\test\offline
4. Locate and copy the Ghost image files to a directory in the Mount Directory.  It is best if you create a new directory. (You will pretty much see the root of X drive after you have it mounted)
5. Then commit the changes and unmount the WIM: Dism /Unmount-Image /MountDir: C:\test\offline /Commit
   • That is all that needs to be done on the boot.wim
6. Use the copy file task in the SMP to deploy the boot.wim back on to the endpoint. file location c:\boot\altiris\iso\sources\boot.wim
7. When it comes to imaging have the endpoint boot to the automation folder then run a script task to call ghost and deploy the image (do not use the Deploy Image task).  Examples are below

    

Example command to image the endpoint

X:\imaging\ghost\x64\ghost64.exe  -sure -clone,MODE=restore,DST=1,SRC=x:\path to image\imagename.gho

 

Your deploy image job will look like this:

• Boot to automation folder
• Script task with: x:\imaging\ghost\x64\ghost64.exe  -sure -clone,MODE=restore,DST=1,SRC=x:\path to image\imagename.gho
• boot to production 
  
  

NOTE: you will need enough RAM to run the Winpe environment and the image files ( boot.wim file size +10% )

Additional Information

Microsoft DISM command: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/add-and-remove-drivers-to-an-offline-windows-image?view=windows-10