Putting it all together: an end-to-end scenario

A typical deployment scenario covers all the steps from receiving a bare-metal server, deploying an operating system image on the server, and verifying that the server is running as planned.

• Receiving new servers from IBM
  When you receive new servers from IBM®, save any printed materials and any CDs or DVDs that are in the box.
• Importing the servers into the Configuration Manager database
  Use the information provided by IBM to put information about the servers in the Configuration Manager database.
• Creating a custom task sequence for deploying the new servers
  Create a new task sequence for deploying servers from the sample task sequences that are part of the IBM Deployment Pack, if you do not already have a task sequence that works.
• Adding Windows device drivers to the boot image
  Although the IBM Deployment Pack adds drivers to the driver catalog during installation and adds drivers to the Windows® PE boot images, you might require additional network or storage drivers.
• Editing the task sequence steps
  Edit the task sequence to update settings in the steps that you want to use, to add steps, or to delete any steps that you do not need.
• Enabling the command shell on your boot image
  Adding command line support to a boot image makes it easier to troubleshoot on the target machine and gives you easy access to the task sequence logs.
• Advertising the task sequence to the new servers
  After saving the task sequence, you can assign the task sequence to the collection of servers.
• Racking and booting the new servers
  After creating the deployment task sequence, you must rack the new servers, connect them to a network, and power them on to continue the deployment.
• Preventing a server from looping during multiple reboot processing
  A possible problem that might occur during the multiple reboot processes of an operating system deployment on a server is an improper setting for the state variable that controls the overall installation. The improper setting can occur when an error occurs that does not stop the installation.