How to create offline media using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating offline media using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). By the end of this guide, you will be able to create an ISO file of your deployment share, allowing you to deploy custom images to workstations without needing a connection to your Windows Deployment Server. We will also cover how to create a selection profile to optimize the size of your ISO file.

Step 1: Prepare Your Environment

Before you start creating your offline media, ensure that you have the following:

• A working instance of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) installed.
• A configured deployment share with your task sequences, operating systems, applications, and drivers ready to be included in the ISO.
• Sufficient disk space for the offline media ISO file.

Practical Tips

• Regularly update your MDT and deployment share to ensure you’re using the latest drivers and applications.
• Back up your deployment share before making significant changes.

Step 2: Create a Selection Profile

To optimize the size of your ISO file, create a selection profile that specifies which components to include.

1. Open the MDT Deployment Workbench.
2. Navigate to your deployment share.
3. Right-click on Selection Profiles and choose New.
4. Name your selection profile (e.g., "Offline Media Profile").

In the wizard, select the items you want to include

• Operating systems
• Applications
• Drivers
5. Click Finish to create the selection profile.

Practical Tips

• Be selective about the components you include to keep the ISO file size manageable. Only add necessary operating systems, applications, and drivers.

Step 3: Create the Offline Media ISO File

Now that you have your selection profile ready, you can create the ISO file.

1. In the MDT Deployment Workbench, right-click on your deployment share.
2. Select Update Deployment Share.
3. In the wizard, choose Create a bootable ISO.
4. Select your previously created selection profile from the drop-down menu.
5. Specify the output location for the ISO file.
6. Click Next and then Finish to start the process.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Ensure that you have sufficient disk space at the output location; otherwise, the ISO creation process may fail.
• Verify that all selected items in the profile are properly configured and available in the deployment share.

Step 4: Testing the Offline Media

Once the ISO file is created, it is essential to test it to ensure it works as intended.

1. Use a virtual machine or a physical device to test the ISO.
2. Boot the machine using the created ISO file.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to initiate the deployment process.
4. Ensure that the custom image is deployed correctly without any errors.

Practical Tips

• If you encounter issues during testing, revisit your selection profile and deployment share settings to ensure everything is configured correctly.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully created offline media using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit. This process allows you to deploy custom images to workstations without relying on a network connection, enhancing your deployment flexibility. As a next step, consider exploring additional MDT features, such as customizing task sequences or integrating with Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager for more complex deployments.