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MDT: use with a database

Romain

In this tutorial, we will see how to use MDT with a database.

The use of this one makes it possible to store in a database the information of deployment for a station to identify for example by its MAC address, which makes it possible when one has to redo the post to pre-fill all the information like :

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Configure the database
  3. Configure MDT
  4. Example of use
  5. Conclusion

Prerequisites

Configure the database

From the DeploymentWorkbench (MDT) console, unfold the Advanced Configuration 1 folder, right click on Database 2 and click on New Database 3 .

Enter the server name 1 and the SQL instance 2 , configure the connection mode to the 3 instance and then click Next 4 .

If necessary, configure port 1433 for TCP / IP access

Choose the option Create a new database 1 , enter the database name 2 and click Next 3 .

Enter the name of the deployment share 1 and click Next 2 .

If the share is not filled in, you must then indicate an account authorized to connect to the database.

A summary is displayed, click on Next 1 .

Once the database is created, click on Finish to close the wizard.

We can now switch to the MDT configuration to use the database.

Configure MDT

The example of use after the configuration only on adding the computer and assigning the task, I only activate the necessary rules.

Right click on Database 1 and click Configure Databases Rules 2 .

Computer Options: select Query for computer-specific settings 1 and click Next 2 .

For other options deselect all by clicking the Deselect All button. To summarize the rules to add, click Next 1 .

Once the rules are added, close the wizard by clicking on Finish 1 .

If we look at the CustomSetting.ini file (Deployment Share Properties / Rules tab), CSettings has been added to the Priority parameter and the following section has been added:

[CSettings]
SQLServer=SERVER
Instance=SQLEXPRESS
Port=1433
Database=MDT
Netlib=DBMSSOCN
Table=ComputerSettings
Parameters=UUID, AssetTag, SerialNumber, MacAddress
ParameterCondition=OR

In case the sharing has not been configured, add the following lines to the section (adapt to your environment):

DBID=User
DBPWD=Password

Now that MDT is configured, we will see a use case.

Example of use

In this part, we will add a computer to the database that will be identified by the MAC address of its network card and we will assign the following parameters:

Before you begin, you must recover the address of the network card.

Under Hyper-V, the virtual machine must have been started before a MAC address is assigned to the adapter.

From the MDT console, go to Database / Computers 1 , right click in the middle area and click on New 2 .

Enter a description 1 , Asset TAG 2 , MAC address 3 and click Apply 4 .

Go to the Details tab 1 and enter the properties JoinWorkgroup 2 , OSDComputerName 3 , TaskSequenceID 4 then click Apply 5 and OK 6> >.

Launch a deployment, the task sequence should be selected and the name and workgroup completed.

Conclusion

The use of the MDT database allows a great automation of the deployment with a minimum of human intervention provided that it can feed it automatically using tools such as GLPI / OCSInventory …

This example shows that a small part of what is possible to do the database, it is possible to add roles (Deployment tasks + software), to make the configuration compared to a model of computer or even of location relative to the IP address of the gateway.

The main disadvantage as any database and feed and keep it up to date.

Use by MAC address can be useful for training room positions that the we redo regularly and limit human intervention.

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