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How to perform standalone deployment?

With the work from home becoming the new norm, you might have to deploy OS to computers that are not connected to your corporate network estate. In such cases, ManageEngine OS Deployer comes handy with standalone deployment.

  1. Create a golden image
  2. Create deployment template
  3. Create USB media
  4. Create standalone task
  5. Port bootable media using USB
  6. Use USB to kick-start deployment

Create a golden image

The first step is capturing the OS partitions from a computer of your choice in your network. From your OS Deployer server, perform the steps given to create an online image.

Create a deployment template

Enterprises have their own set of requirements on the operating system used. Deployment templates let you customize the captured image based on the requirements. Create the deployment template by following the steps given.

Create a USB media

A pre-installation environment is required to boot the target computer before installing the operating system. In case of deploying OS using standalone deployment, USB media is required. Create a USB media by following the steps given.

Create a standalone task

The standalone task is designed to enable deploying operating system to computers that are not connected to corporate network. This totally comes handy for the "work from home" users. The following are the steps to create a standalone task.

Steps to create standalone task

  1. From your OS Deployer server, navigate to Deploy -> Standalone task -> Add standalone task.
  2. Now, select the template that you would want to deploy to the target computer.
  3. Define the USB media using which you would like to boot the target the computer.
  4. Now, include the MAC addresses of the target computers one-by-one or you can also import the MAC addresses in the form of .csv
    Note: Standalone deployment can be performed only if the MAC addresses of the computers are added to the standalone task.
  5. The bootable media and the image file will be downloaded using the standalone tool created. Specify the bandwidth that you would like to employ in downloading the image and media. (You can also have the image directly downloaded in the target computer. This however needs the computer to be able to reach the central server. This setting is available in the Standalone tool.)
  6. The unique 4 digit passcode available here can be used to login to the standalone deployment tool and kick-start OS deployment in the target machines.
  7. Now click on "Create standalone task" button.

Create standalone USB drive

You can create a standalone drive using one of the two ways given below.

Create USB drive using standalone deployment tool

After creating the standalone task, you can download the Standalone deployment tool. This tool is used to download the image file and media to the external USB drive.

Steps to port the bootable media to the external drive

  1. Click on the Download SD tool from the actions option / download button against the standalone task created.
  2. Once the tool is downloaded, extract the file and execute OSDStandaloneLauncher.exe
  3. Here, you can use the 4 digit pass-code or use the admin credentials and proceed to the next step.
  4. Once authenticated, you can find the name of the image and media file that is to be downloaded.
  5. You can now enable the option to "Directly download the image in the target computer". Ensure the target computer is able to connect to the central server. This can be achieved by one of the following options.
    • Avail and configure the secure gateway server. This will enable a secure communication between the target computer and the central server.
    • Perform network level settings in order to let your target computer get to the server without having to connect to your corporate network via VPN.
  6. From the list of available external USB drives, choose the formatting options.
  7. Clicking the "Next" button, the configured media and the image file associated to the standalone task will be downloaded to the external USB drive. This drive is now the bootable media which can be used to boot the target computers.
    Note : If you have enabled the option to "Directly download the image file to the target computer", the image download will be skipped here.
  8. Also, you need to manually copy the required drivers to the USB drive (as a folder).
  9. Now, refer to the steps to Use the USB to kick-start deployment.

Using standalone media

Once standalone task is created, you can download the standalone media, and then create bootable media on the external USB drive. Follow the steps given below for the same.

Steps to use the standalone media

  1. For the created standalone task, click 'Modify standalone task' from Actions or Icon near Bootable media name.
  2. Once the media is modified, you can download the standalone media.
  3. Connect the USB drive to which the media has to be copied.
  4. Once you've downloaded the standalone media, extract and run the CopyUSB.bat and select the USB drive to copy the media to.
  5. After the media has been copied successfully, copy the image file (.osdi file) to the USB drive or make sure the image is available on any one of the network shares.
  6. Now, refer to the steps to Use the USB to kick-start deployment.

Use USB to kick-start deployment

  1. Use the USB stick to boot the target computer. Once booted, provide the admin credentials or the unique 4 digit passcode.
  2. Once authenticated, click on the "Deploy Image" to proceed with the deployment.
    Note: Standalone deployment can be performed only if the MAC addresses of the computers are added while configuring standalone task. If not added, connection with central server will be required to proceed with the deployment.
  3. You can Browse the OS Image from local hard disk or network share that was configured in the task.
  4. You can browse the driver repository for the drivers to be added for the target machine during deployment.