Last years I created many Windows XP and Windows 7 reference images with software updates in it. With ConfigMgr 2012 it was also needed to create a reference image, but installing software updates was a lot easier. This because of a new feature: Offline Servicing, which installs software updates offline in the reference image. More about Offline Servicing can be found HERE. With ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 and Windows 8 support it will be easier again. How about that!?
In ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 the Build and Capture proces is updated to apply image in place of Setup.exe installation. It's possible now to use a Windows 7 or Windows 8 INSTALL.WIM from installation media directly in ConfigMgr. This because the D: issue (which was the reason for a reference image) is fixed. When using a Windows 7 or Windows 8 INSTALL.WIM it will be installed on the C: drive now. Just use Offline servicing and you have a up-to-date reference image! (software updates were another reason for building a reference image before SP1)
For Windows 7 there's an additional "Apply operating system action" needed. Just add "OSDPreserveDriveLetter=False" before the Apply OS step, which allows the task sequence to auto-correct the D: issue. Windows 8 will be installed on the C: drive by default, so now worries about that. Over time, Microsoft will deprecate Setup.exe installations for Windows operating systems.
When you want to install applications in the reference image (because of faster deployment) just deploy the INSTALL.WIM in a Build and Capture proces. Then add some applications and/or scripts and capture the image again. Nice to see that Imaging in ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 is better and easier again, but there's still much to learn on this topic!
In ConfigMgr 2007 and 2012 the most used functionality is Operating System (OS) deployment. With OS deployment it's possible to migrate or install an unknown or known system, which can be a server, fat client (desktop or notebook), thin client or virtual desktop. To migrate or install an unknown or known system, a reference image is needed. This is the image created on a (virtual) system, which is prepared for deployment. Unfortunately you can't use the Install.wim from the Windows XP, Vista or Win7 ISO file, because it will be installed on the D: drive by default. That's the Microsoft way for creating images :)
A reference image can be created with a Build and Capture task sequence, which is the preferred way. All Windows files from a ISO file must be imported in ConfigMgr to use this task sequence. A Windows OS will be installed on the host system, Sysprep is running which reboots the system, Windows PE will start automatically and a reference image will be uploaded to the ConfigMgr server. A default Build and Capture can be created within the task sequence wizard. The ConfigMgr client will be installed in this reference image (mandatory step).
Another possibility is using ConfigMgr Capture media on an already installed system. That way the system must be joined to a workgroup and Sysprep files must be present on the host OS. In Windows 7 or Windows 8 this isn't needed, because Sysprep is build-in. When ConfigMgr Capture media is started (within Windows, because it isn't bootable) Sysprep is running which reboots the system. Windows PE will start automatically after reboot and a reference image will be uploaded to the ConfigMgr server. No ConfigMgr client will be installed this time.
A reference image contains software updates and maybe a few applications like DotNet Framework for example. It's not a best practice to install user-specific applications in the reference image. Just keep it as clean as possible! That's also the reason to create it on a virtual machine, because less drivers are needed. When using ConfigMgr 2007 it's needed to install software updates during Build and Capture to have an updated image. In ConfigMgr 2012 it's not needed anymore to install software updates during installation. Just build the image and use Offline Servicing in ConfigMgr 2012 for offline update integration.
With Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 (which will be supported in ConfigMgr 2012 SP1), no reference image is needed anymore. Within Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 it's possible to mount an ISO file by richtclick and mount it, without the need for additional software. Just copy the Install.wim from the (mounted) ISO file and import it in ConfigMgr 2012 SP1. Use Offline Servicing for offline update integration and you're done! That way you can save a lot of time which can be used for all new awesome functionality in ConfigMgr!
That's it for now. If there are still questions about this topic, use comments below.
