Configuring Post Deployment activities

There are a set of activities which is needed to be performed after image deployment.  Using the OS Deployment add-on in Endpoint Central, you can configure the following post deployment activities while creating deployment templates.

Shutdown/Restart target computer

You can select the action to be performed on the target computer after deployment. If you want to immediately use the computer after deployment you can restart the computer and if you want to use the computer for later use you can shutdown the computer. You can select if you want to shut down or restart computer after image deployment. This setting will help you get the action done without manual efforts.

Configuring User Profile migration settings

When you are upgrading the operating system of a computer to the latest version, user data and configurations often get left out. Configuring all your preferences and settings in that computer can be a tiresome job. To make the migration easier, backup of User Profiles can be created and migrated to the target computer. (To know more about user profile backup creation, click here.) Select the required backup under User Profile migration settings to include it in the template. Or you can choose Computer Specific Settings under Customize tab and add the backup to the respective MAC address. To know more about migrating user profiles, click here.

Configuring target computer details

1. Target computer's SID

   Generally, when you image a computer, the security identifiers(SID) of the computer you imaged will get duplicated on all the target computers where you perform deployment. This might affect the functioning of the target computers within a domain or workgroup. To avoid this, we recommend you to generate unique SIDs to all targets. This can be achieved in ManageEngine OS Deployment solution without using the Sysprep tool. Under post deployment activities, select Generate new SIDs to generate unique SIDs for all target computers. You can also choose to retain the existing SID.

2. Target computer(s) name/pattern

   You can define the target computer's name where the deployment will happen. If you are deploying the image to more number of machines, you can define pattern to name the target computers. Every computer will have its serial number/service tag and they can also be named based on it.

   A target computer's name can be specified using various methods.

   • If you are deploying the image to many computers, you can define a pattern to name them all. This can be done in Post Deployment settings under Deployment template. Check out the examples below for reference.
   • Name computers in a specific pattern
     
     • If you specify the computer name as "WIN-COMPUTER", the target computer will be named "WIN-COMPUTER".
     • If you specify the pattern as "WINPC-{1}", the target computers will be named "WINPC-1", "WINPC-2", "WINPC-3",...etc.
     • If you specify the computer name followed by the SERIALNO in angular braces "WINPC-", each of the target computers will be named based on their serial number as "WINPC-F3QQ123", "WINPC-FW123QQ", "WINPC-FE113SQ" etc., Ensure that the prefix ofdoes not exceed more that 7 characters.
     • If you specify the pattern with zeroes in the beginning as "WINPC-{001}", the target computers will be named as "WINPC-001", "WINPC-002", "WINPC-003"
     • If you specify the computer name followed by the "Device code" in angular braces, "WINPC" where LA is the device code for laptops. These device codes specific for laptops, desktops and surface devices can be edited by navigating to the Customize tab -> Customize Deployment -> Deployment Template -> Create Deployment Template and  Computer name pattern settings.
     • If you specify the computer name followed by the "Remote office code" in angular braces, "WINPC" where ROCODE is the code specific for every remote office. This code is generally the first 2 letters of the remote office name. However, this can be edited by navigating to navigating to the Customize tab -> Customize Deployment -> Deployment Template -> Create Deployment Template and  Computer name pattern settings..

     Note : These patterns can be used in combinations to name your computers. E.g. PC

   • If you want to specify computer names for particular computers in your domain, you can easily do that using Computer Specific Settings. You can configure parameters like computer name, domain, etc. unique to each computer. These parameters will be applied on the computers after the deployment is successfully completed.
   • You can also specify computer names during deployment by choosing the 'Specify computer name during deployment' option. After the completion of the deployment process if the computer name is not specified, a wait time of 10 minutes will start automatically, for the user to change the computer name. If no input is detected, the name configured in the computer specific settings, will be assigned by default. If not, the computer name in the image will be assigned.

3. Adding target computers under Domain

   You can select the domain under which you have to add the target computers. If the domain of the imaging computer and the computer where you are deploying the image are different, you can update the target computer's domain details here. While adding the domain you have to specify the details like the domain name, network type, the admin user name - this admin user should have access to all target computers.

4. Adding target computers under domain along with OU

   You can also add the computer under the OU (Organisational Unit) by specifying the OU details while adding the domain. After successful deployment, the target machine will get automatically added under the OU alone with the domain.

5. Adding user accounts to target computer

   You can add the user accounts to your target computer. If you are handing over the machine to a new joinee, you can add the employee's user account details and get them added into the target computer. 

6. Adding applications

   You can add the applications, drivers which are available as executable and scripts into the target computer after deployment. To know more about adding applications refer this document.

   After customizing the image for deployment, the next step is to deploy the image. Refer this document to know more about how to deploy the image.