Automatic Installation System on USB Memory Instructor: Hai Vortman Students: Leeor Langer Eyal Koren

Agenda Introduction Project Requirements Technology Overview Design Implementation Future Development

Introduction What is the USB Automatic Installation System? The fastest and easiest way to create and upgrade a full working station set in minimum effort and time, using only a USB device. Why use such a system? Saves hours of repetitive work. Simple interface-can be used by non- experts. Supports various installation methods and is easily expandable. USB HDD is a very suitable media and can replace stacks of CD-ROMs.

Project Requirements Removable Media as Data Source Dynamic system Flexible system Minimum user's interference GUI

Technology Overview Essentials Scripting GraphicsUtilitiesApplication

Technology Overview - Essential Technologies Unattended installation Quiet installation Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) Windows Pre-Installation Environment (WinPE) Used as a “launch pad" for GUI and environment. Lightweight version of MS operating systems. Operates from a RAM disk (after booting from USB).

Technology Overview – Utilities DiskPart Command-line hard disk partitioning utility. ImageX Image capture and deploy (HAL…). Windows PE utility (Wpeutil) Command-line tool for WinPE operations.

Technology Overview – Scripting VBScript Powerful and easy scripting language. Executes from our host environment (HTA). Good compatibility with MS components. Windows Management Instrumentation Allows management information to be shared between management applications. Provides a set of functions which can be utilized by other scripting languages (VBScript). Windows Scripting Host Automation technology with a great range of supported features.

Technology Overview - Application ( HTA ) HTML syntax without security constraints. Supports files operations and Registry entries. Supported by WinPE. No need for compilation.

Technology Overview - Graphics ( CSS ) Controls the presentation features. Separation of document content from the document's presentation. Simplifies the code. Provides flexibility and control in presentation characteristics.

General Design WinPE – GUI Platform VBScript – GUI Engine HTA – GUI Structure Data Base – GUI Functionality CSS Graphics – GUI ‘look and feel’ GUI WinPE Unattended SW Data Base Scripting Engines HTML application CSS Graphics

General Design GUI App VBScriptWSHWMIHTACSS Custom WinPEPhysical Layer Utils DB

Detailed Design- Partitioner Example Graphical Interface Application Scripting Utilities Platform Essentials To understand the complexity of SW technology integration, lets take for example the ‘Partitioning’ stage and see how it utilizes and interacts with the various technologies. o Presents all graphical elements using CSS. o Only one stage among others in the application. o VBScript WMI queries for HD information. VBScript prepares temp scripts for Diskpart. Initiates Diskpart + scripts and refreshes the screen. o DiskPart utility wrapper. o Prepares HD for installation and also allows advanced partitioning options.

Design Flow Basic system information and instructions User edits his partition preferences Diskpart utility will make the wanted partitions. Formatting will take place alongside installation. OS Versions for user’s choice. According to the choice made in the previous stage, specific OS’ are offered. In this stage, the user edits the unattended file which contains all predefined installation choices (name, password…) All needed scripts for installation are initiated- Formatting, Data Base operations… Installation initiation Wpeutil reboot function is called. No unattended file needed. All needed scripts for installation are initiated- Formatting, Data Base operations… Wpeutil reboot function is called.

Future Development Set up an advanced networked deployment system in the Technion: Create a master deployment image (using capture). Deploy a complete lab or “computer farm” efficiently and quickly. Automate the process for ease of use or integrate into other automation tools (WDS).

Backup – Data Base

OS for unattended installation Naming convention - "unattended" Unattended file

OS for Image deployment The preferred installation method Image capture

Application addition example