3.3 General rules of installation

3.3.1 Installation file

Acronis Snap Deploy installation file includes the following components and the components features: Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console Acronis Snap Deploy PE Builder Media Builder for Acronis Image Creator Media Builder for Acronis Snap Deploy Agent Media Builder for Acronis Standalone Utility Acronis License Server Acronis License Server Acronis License Server Management Console Acronis License Server Management Tool Acronis OS Deploy Server Acronis PXE Server Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent Acronis WOL Proxy

The installation window

The Acronis Universal Deploy option installs from its own installation file.
3.3.2 Common installation configurations
Acronis Snap Deploy components can be installed in various configurations, in terms of distributing the components and features among the networked computers.
1. The minimal configuration that enables only offline imaging and standalone deployment: Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console (custom installation, including: Media Builder for Acronis Image Creator Media Builder for Acronis Standalone Utility.) all on the same computer. 2. The minimal configuration that enables offline imaging, standalone deployment and deployment through the network with Acronis OS Deploy Server: Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console (custom installation, including: Media Builder for Acronis Image Creator Media Builder for Acronis Standalone Utility Media Builder for Acronis Snap Deploy Agent.) Acronis License Server (custom installation, includes only: Acronis License Server) Acronis OS Deploy Server all on the same computer. On the target computers, no Acronis components are required. 3. The configuration that adds the network boot of master and target computers to the above functionality: Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console (custom installation, including: Media Builder for Acronis Image Creator Media Builder for Acronis Standalone Utility Media Builder for Acronis Snap Deploy Agent.) Acronis License Server (custom installation, includes only: Acronis License Server) Acronis OS Deploy Server Acronis PXE Server all on the same computer. On the target computers, no Acronis components are required. This is the recommended elementary configuration that enables most of the Acronis Snap Deploy functionality. In case physical access to the powerful server is limited, you can install the console on a separate computer. Another common configuration is: Workstation: Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console (custom installation, including: Media Builder for Acronis Image Creator Media Builder for Acronis Standalone Utility Media Builder for Acronis Snap Deploy Agent.) Server: Acronis License Server(custom installation, includes only: Acronis License Server) Acronis OS Deploy Server Acronis PXE Server Generally, you can install all Acronis servers on separate computers. In this case, you will have to connect the management console to each server separately to manage the server. With all servers on one computer, only one console connection is needed. 4. To add the ability to deploy Windows on dissimilar hardware to any configuration but (1), install the Acronis Universal Deploy add-on on a computer where Acronis OS Deploy Server is installed. 5. To add the online imaging ability and the ability to validate images integrity to any configuration, install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent. Online imaging means that the master system is imaged live (without reboot or suspending operations.) Online imaging can be performed remotely whenever you need on connecting the console Acronis, Inc 25

to the management agent installed on the master computer. The management agent will be included in the master image and deployed on all target computers. This will enable you to manage files and execute applications on target computers at any time after deployment. However, having excess software in the master image is not always rational. Besides, installation of the agent takes a license. We recommend that you create a master image using bootable Acronis Master Image Creator or the command line utility in PE. Nevertheless, having at least one management agent on the network (not necessarily on the master computer) makes sense. You will be able to validate (check) your images integrity using the management agent. 6. To add the Acronis OS Deploy Server ability to deploy in other subnet (across a switch) to any configuration but (1), install Acronis WOL Proxy on any server in the subnet where the target computers are. No additional actions are required. Acronis WOL Proxy has to be installed only if: - you are going to perform scheduled deployment (manual or event-driven deployment do not require WOL Proxy Server) AND - all or some of the target computers are in subnet(s) other than Acronis OS Deploy Server.
3.4 Installation of Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console
Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console is an administrative tool for remote access to Acronis servers and Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent. Install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console on any networked computer from which you prefer to operate. To 1. 2. 3. install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console: Run the Acronis Snap Deploy setup program Click Install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console Follow the Install Wizard instructions on the screen.
Typical and complete installations install, besides Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console, Media Builder for Acronis Image Creator, Media Builder for Acronis Snap Deploy Agent and Media Builder for Acronis Standalone Utility. We strongly recommend that you install all the features that enable creation of bootable CD, DVD or other removable media with bootable Acronis components. Once Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console is installed, you can install the other components remotely using the consoles remote installation feature (for more information, see 4.2 Installation and update of Acronis components on remote computers).
3.5 Installation of Acronis License Server

3.5.1 Installation

Acronis License Server is a component that tracks licenses of Acronis products. Install Acronis License Server on a computer accessible to Acronis OS Deploy Server. Installing both products on the same computer would make sense. A typical installation installs Acronis License Server and the Acronis License Server Management Console. A complete installation installs, besides these two, Acronis License Server Management Tool. A custom installation lets you choose components to install. 26 Acronis, Inc

Manage files connect to Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent Execute Applications - connect to Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent.
4.2 Installation and update of Acronis components on remote computers
The following components of Acronis Snap Deploy can be installed remotely: - Acronis OS Deploy Server - Acronis License Server - Acronis PXE Server - Acronis WOL Proxy - Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent. Acronis Snap Deploy components cannot be installed onto remote computers running Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Please install the components locally on such machines. Preparation For a successful installation on a remote computer running any Windows XP version, the option Control panel -> Folder options -> View -> Use simple file sharing must be disabled on that computer. For a successful installation on a remote computer running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows 2003 Server, the option Control panel -> Windows Firewall -> Exceptions -> File and Printer Sharing in the Control panel -> Windows Firewall -> Exceptions must be enabled on that computer. Acronis Snap Deploy utilizes TCP port 25001 for a remote installation. Make sure this port added to exceptions in your firewall settings. Installation 1. Click Install Acronis components. 2. Select the installer location from the list (Registered Components, Search removable media or Specify location). The default selection Registered Components will use setup files from the default C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\RemoteInstall folder. 3. Select the Acronis component and specify the component features you want to install (for component features see 3.3 General rules of installation). 4. Browse to the remote computer or specify its network name or IP address. 5. Enter the administrators username and password for the remote machine. 6. Specify the Acronis License Server, if the wizard asks. You must have at least one free license on the license server to install Acronis OS Deploy Server or Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent. 7. Installation of some Acronis components requires system restart. If you allow immediate remote computer reboot, check the Reboot the remote computer box. 8. Click Proceed. The Acronis component then will be installed on the remote computer. If system restart is necessary, the remote machine will reboot or the program will prompt you to restart the remote machine, depending on your choice in step 6.
To update an Acronis component on a remote computer, perform the same procedure.

4.3 Browsing logs

To view operation logs of the Acronis OS Deploy Server or Acronis PXE Server, connect the console to the server. Logs are displayed in the lower part of the console window. The log browsing window can be accessed by selecting Tools -> Show log. The log browsing window contains two panes: the left one features the log list, while the right one shows selected log contents. The left panel can contain up to 50 logs. If there are more, you can browse the list using the More and Less buttons with the left and right arrows. To delete a log, select it and click Delete. If any step was terminated by an error, the corresponding log will be marked with a red circle with a white X inside. The right window features the list of steps contained in the selected log. The three buttons to the right control message filters: the white X in the red circle filters error messages, the exclamation sign in a yellow triangle filters warnings, and the i in the blue circle filters information messages. To select columns (step parameters) to display, right-click the headers line or left-click the Choose Details button. Then check the desired parameters. To sort messages by a particular parameter, click its header (click again to reverse order) or the Arrange Icons by button (the second from the right) and select the desired parameter. You can also change column width by dragging the borders with a mouse.

5. Creating Acronis bootable media
Acronis Snap Deploy has three bootable components that can boot and perform operations on any PCcompatible hardware, including bare metal and computers with non-supported file systems. The components are: - Acronis Snap Deploy Agent (boots on a target computer to enable deployment performed by Acronis OS Deploy Server) - Acronis Standalone Utility (boots on a target computer and performs deployment on its own) - Acronis Master Image Creator (boots on a master computer and takes an image of the system.) A computer can be booted into a bootable component using physical media or Acronis PXE Server. Acronis bootable media is a physical media (CD, DVD, USB flash drive, diskettes or other media supported by the computer BIOS as a boot device) that contains bootable components of Acronis Snap Deploy. Acronis PXE Server with uploaded bootable components can also be thought of as a kind of bootable media. Thats why you can create bootable media or configure the PXE server using the same wizard. To start the bootable media builder, select from the start menu Acronis -> Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console -> Bootable Media Builder. You can also run the Bootable Media Builder from the Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console window (click Create Bootable Media on the toolbar or the sidebar, or select Create Bootable Media from the Tools menu.) 1. Select bootable components to be placed on the media.
Selecting bootable components
Select the component that will start automatically (such component is also referred as the default boot menu item) and specify the timeout interval for the component automatic start. If you choose, say, Acronis Snap Deploy Agent, and set the Start automatically after parameter to 10 sec, the agent will launch 10 seconds after the boot menu is displayed. You also have the options:
No auto start - the Acronis loader will display the boot menu and wait for someone to select whether to boot the OS or one of the Acronis components. Booting from HDD the operating system, if present on the booting computers hard disk, will start after the specified time runs out. This option is designed to make the target computer to boot into the deployed OS after deployment. The main usage scenario is as follows. You create a PXE package for scheduled deployment and configure the Acronis Snap Deploy Agent to start automatically. After the scheduled deployment is completed, the target computer reboots into the agent again and might be deployed by some other deployment operation. How to avoid this situation? To ensure that the target computer boots into the agent before the deployment, tune the PXE Server to work with your deployment server when scheduling the deployment. To ensure that the target computer boots into the deployed OS after the deployment, choose the Booting from HDD option when creating the PXE package for the scheduled deployment. Acronis Standalone Utility can be placed on a physical media only. This component is not designed to boot from a PXE server.

While creating bootable media or uploading Acronis Master Image Creator to the PXE server, the image creator can be configured to start automatically on timeout. 6. The Master Image Creator establishes network connection to be able to save the image on a network share. A dialog box comes up suggesting that you configure the network connection used by the image creator. By default, Acronis Master Image Creator uses DHCP auto configuration. Ignore the prompt (click Cancel) if there is a DHCP server on the network or the image has to be placed on a local HDD or media.
Prompt for configuring the master image creator
The image creator can be pre-configured to apply the default network settings automatically on timeout. The manual configuration is needed if auto configuration is not possible (no DHCP server on the network) or does not succeed. To configure the network connections manually, click OK in the prompt window.
Acronis Master Image Creator configuration: network settings
Set the preferable values and click OK. 7. When Acronis Master Image Creator starts, it displays the Master Image Creator welcome window:
Master Image Creation Wizard: welcome window
8. In this window, click Next and go to step 7.5.1 Disks or partitions to image.
7.4 Starting online imaging
Online imaging means that the master system is imaged live (without reboot or suspending operations). Online imaging can be performed remotely whenever you need. The disadvantage is that you have to install imaging software that is included in the master image. This is not always rational. 1. Install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console and Acronis License Server. Import licenses to the license server. 2. Configure the master system. 3. Install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent on the master system locally or remotely, using Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console. Reboot on prompt. Once Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent is installed, you can image the master system online (without reboot) at any time. 4. Start the Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console. 5. Connect to the master computer. 6. Select Create Master Image -> Next -> Create master image on a remote computer. If you choose Create master image using bootable media, the program will suggest that you create the bootable media for offline imaging.
7.5 Steps of the Master Image Creation Wizard
7.5.1 Disks or partitions to image
Select the disks or partitions to image. You can select a random set of disks and partitions. The Master Boot Record (MBR) will be also included in the image.
If your operating system and its loader reside on different partitions, always include both partitions in the image. The partitions must also be deployed together; otherwise there is a high risk that the operating system will not start.
Select disks and partitions to image
7.5.2 Image name and location

Acronis Master Image Creator can save an image: - on a network share - on the master computer internal hard drive - on USB and FireWire (IEEE-1394) storage devices (hard drives, flash drives) attached to the master computer - on DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW loaded in the master computer media drive. A sizeable image can be split between multiple media automatically. Select the image location in the device tree. Type the name of the file in the Filename field. The program can generate a unique file name. Just click the Generate name for a new file button on the right.
Selecting the image location

7.5.3 Setting options

Set the options for creating the master image. 1. [OPTIONAL] Password for the image The preset is no password. Protect the image with a password to prevent unauthorized deployment. 2. Compression level The preset is Normal. The data compression level for the image being created. The description field provides estimations for image size and image creation time for each compression level. You can select the compression level based on these estimations. The default Normal level is recommended in most cases.
Selecting the data compression level
3. [FOR ONLINE IMAGING ONLY] Image creation priority The preset is Low. The priority of any process running in a system determines the amount of CPU usage and system resources allocated to that process. Decreasing the image creation priority will free more resources for other CPU tasks. Increasing of image creation priority could speed up the imaging by taking resources from the other running processes. The effect will depend on total CPU usage and other factors. 4. Archive splitting Sizeable images can be split into several files that together make up the original image. The preset is Automatic. With this setting, the program will act as follows. When creating an image on a hard disk: If the selected disk has enough space and its file system allows the estimated file size, the program will create a single image file. If the storage disk has enough space, but its file system does not allow the estimated file size, the image will automatically be split into several files. Such might be the case when the image is placed on FAT16 and FAT32 file systems that have a 4 GB file size limit. If free space on the disk runs out while creating an image, the program will warn you and wait for your decision as to how you plan to fix the problem. You can try to free some additional space and continue or click Back and select another disk. When creating an image on a CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW diskette: Acronis Master Image Creator will ask you to insert a new disk when the previous one is full.

9.2 Creating templates

1. Connect the console to the Acronis OS Deploy Server. 2. Select the Templates tab. 3. Click Create Template on the sidebar. Further sections of this chapter tell you how to use the Create Deployment Template Wizard.
9.2.1 Master image selection
Specify: - The master image. - The user name and password for the network shared folder if the image is on the network. The best practice is to map the shared folder as a local drive (Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Map Network Drive.) Acronis OS Deploy Server can deploy images located: - in network shared folders - on the deploy server internal hard drive - on USB and FireWire (IEEE-1394) storage devices (hard drives, flash drives) attached to the deploy server
on DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW loaded in the deploy server media drive.
The best practice is keeping images on the deploy server hard drive. This minimizes network traffic during deployment. The image created on removable media has to fit into one media disk. To deploy an image spread over several CDs, DVDs or other media, copy all parts of the image to the same folder on the deploy server or on a network share. Acronis Standalone Utility can deploy images located: - in network shared folders - on USB and FireWire (IEEE-1394) storage devices (hard drives, flash drives) attached to the managed computer - on DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW loaded in the managed computer media drive. The image created on removable media has to fit into one media disk. To deploy an image spread over several CDs, DVDs or other media, copy all parts of the image to the same folder on an external drive or a network share.

Selecting a master image

9.2.2 Disk/partition selection
Specify: - The disk to deploy, if the image contains multiple disks. - The disk partitions to deploy, if the image of the selected disk contains multiple partitions.
Selecting a disk from the master image
The further steps will depend on how many partitions you select. If you deploy one partition, it is assumed that the target disk has partitions and you will have to select the target partition, to deploy over it. Other partitions will remain untouched. The active partition of the target disk will remain active - even if you deploy an active partition side by side with it, the newly deployed partition will not become active. Therefore, deploy an active partition to an active partition if you want to boot from the deployed partition. Deploying more than one partition will clear partitioning of the target disk. Only the newly deployed partitions will exist on the disk after deployment. The Master Boot Record (MBR) is always deployed from the image regardless of your choice. If your operating system and its loader reside on different partitions, always include both partitions in the image. The partitions must also be deployed together; otherwise there is a high risk that the operating system will not start.

9.2.6 Network settings

Configure the Internet Protocol (IP) settings for the target computers. You have options to preserve the master system network settings, to obtain IP addresses automatically from DHCP server or to specify a range of static IPs, subnet mask and default gateway in case you network does not have DHCP capability.

Network settings: TCP/IP

[OPTIONAL] If you have not selected to preserve the master system settings, specify DNS properties as well. Otherwise this step is skipped.
Network settings: DNS server
9.2.7 Security identifiers
Acronis Snap Deploy can generate unique security identifiers (SIDs) for the target computers. This option is normally enabled. The SID can remain unchanged if there is no computer with the same SID in the same workgroup or domain. Also, it is recommended not to change the SID if the image is deployed on the same computer where the image was taken from.
New SIDs will be generated for the target computers

9.2.8 Transferring files

[OPTIONAL] Select files to be transferred to all target computers after deployment (for example, installation files.) The files must be located on a network share. Check Execute file if you want to execute the files after deployment.
9.2.9 Executing applications
[OPTIONAL] You can specify service applications (from the master system image) for executing on the target computers after deployment.
9.2.10 Using Acronis Universal Deploy
[OPTIONAL] Acronis Universal Deploy is an add-on to Acronis Snap Deploy. It is purchased separately and installed from a separate setup file. Skip this section if one of the following is true: - you do not have Acronis Universal Deploy - you want to deploy an image that does not contain Windows. 1. Select whether to use Acronis Universal Deploy.
Acronis Universal Deploy will help you create a bootable Windows clone on different hardware by automatically installing the necessary system drivers. Use Acronis Universal Deploy when deploying Windows to a computer with a dissimilar processor, different motherboard or other mass storage device than in the imaged system. For detailed information see 2.5 What is Acronis Universal Deploy.
Select whether to use Acronis Universal Deploy
Acronis Universal Deploy uses three sources for drivers: the Windows default driver storage folder (in the image being deployed) the mass storage device driver specified by the user the driver repository - a folder or folders on a network share or removable media.
The program will find the most suitable drivers of all available drivers and install them into the deployed system. However, the driver defined by the user, will have the priority. It will be installed, with appropriate warnings, even if the program finds a better driver. 2. [OPTIONAL] Specify the mass-storage driver If the target hardware has a specific mass storage controller (such as a SCSI, RAID, or Fibre Channel adapter) for the hard disk, explicitly specify the appropriate driver for this controller. The driver will be installed in any case, bypassing the automatic driver search-and-install procedure. Use this option only if the automatic search-and-install procedure was unsuccessful. When deploying the system to a virtual machine that uses SCSI hard drive controller, be sure to specify SCSI drivers for virtual environment. For example, VMware requires Buslogic or LSI logic drivers. Use drivers bundled with your virtualization software or download the latest driver versions from the software manufacturer website. 3. [OPTIONAL] Specify the driver repository Specify a driver storage to search for HAL and storage device drivers during the automatic search-andinstall procedure. You can add network locations and enable a search of removable media for drivers.

Adding a driver repository
9.2.11 Deployment options
Select the options for the deployment operation. You may select Use default options or Set the options manually. If the latter is the case, the settings will be applied only to the current deployment template. Alternatively, you can edit the default options. To do so, select Use default options and click Tools -> Options in the description field. Edit the options and click OK. Your settings will be saved as the defaults. When not creating a template, you can access default options through Tools -> Options in the program menu or on the toolbar.
The full list of deployment options
Action after deployment The preset is Shutdown. Choose whether to turn off or restart the target computer after the deployment and all associated operations, scheduled in this wizard (transferring files, executing applications) are completed. Disk utilization The preset is Occupy disk space entirely. If the target disk capacity is not equal to that of the master computers disk, the program can enlarge (or reduce) the last partition of the master disk according to the proportion of the master and target disk capacities. Alternatively, if the target disk is larger, the program can keep the original partitions size and leave the remaining disk space unallocated. Licensing The preset is Stop operation. Acronis Snap Deploy uses two types of licenses. A license for the server product is needed to deploy a server operating system. A license for the workstation product is needed to deploy a workstation operating system. By default, a workstation OS will not be deployed if the Acronis License Server has licenses only for the server product. You have an option to use the server product license instead of the workstation license automatically or through a prompt.

Licensing

Network utilization The preset is Multicast. You can choose the data transfer mode for the deployment. With the Multicast transfer mode, Acronis OS Deploy Server sends data to a group of recipients simultaneously. Using the Unicast transfer mode, the server sends a copy of the data to each recipient (this can significantly reduce the deployment speed.) For example, you have 128 KB/sec bandwidth and want to deploy a system on 10 target computers. - With Unicast mode, the server divides 128 KB/sec among 10 computers, therefore the data transfer speed will be 12.8 KB/sec for each target machine. - With Multicast mode, the server sends one copy of data to a multicast address, and each client will receive data at 128 KB/sec speed. Multicast configuration has a parameter that specifies the time to live (TTL) for multicast packets. Use this parameter to limit multicast packets distribution via gateways. The default value is 15. In practice, this enables the packets to pass up to 15 hops which may be treated as unlimited distance. The minimal value 1 will limit the packets circulation to one subnet. By setting the permitted bandwidth you can limit the network usage during deployment.

13.1.2 Enabling WOL on targets
Before using scheduled deployment, make sure that Wake on LAN is enabled on the target computers. Enter the computer BIOS and set Power -> Wake On PCI PME -> Power On (the exact names might vary depending on the BIOS version.) To enable the Wake on LAN feature on a Windows computer set the NIC properties on the computer as follows:
Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager -> Network adapters -> select the NIC -> Properties -> Advanced: Enable PME -> Enabled Wake On Link Settings -> OS Controlled Wake On Settings -> Wake On Magic Packet.
13.2 Scheduled deployment within one subnet
When the scheduled time comes, Acronis OS Deploy Server sends out magic packets according to the predefined list of MAC addresses. (A magic packet is a packet that contains 16 contiguous copies of the receiving NIC's Ethernet address.) The targets wake, boot into Acronis Snap Deploy Agent from the Acronis PXE Server and connect to the deploy server. When all (or some, depending on your choice) targets connect, the deploy server starts multicasting.
Scheduled deployment within one subnet
Steps: 1. Install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console and Acronis License Server. Import licenses to the license server. Install Acronis OS Deploy Server and Acronis PXE Server. 2. Make sure that Wake on LAN is enabled on the target computers. If you cannot or do not wish to use Wake on LAN on some or all of the target computers, you will have to boot them into Acronis Snap Deploy Agent manually before the scheduled time comes. 3. Create bootable media with Acronis Master Image Creator. 4. Configure and image the master system. 5. Create and save a deployment template. 6. Create a list of target MAC addresses. This can be a plain text file: ; comment 00-01-23-45-67-1A 02-01-23-45-67-1B ; comment
7. Configure Acronis PXE Server: upload Acronis Snap Deploy Agent (to boot the targets into the agent before deployment) set Booting from HDD as the default boot menu item (to boot the targets into the deployed OS after the deployment) set up a reasonable timeout so that the OS can start automatically.
8. Connect to the Acronis OS Deploy Server and click Scheduled Deployment on the sidebar. 9. Import or type in the list of target MAC addresses.
10. Select Wake-on-LAN. 11. The next window suggests that you tune the PXE server to use with the deployment server you are connected to. The goal of this setting is to boot the woken machine into Acronis Snap Deploy Agent even if another component on the PXE server is configured to start automatically. The tuned PXE Server will redirect the boot menu configuration requests that come from the booting machines, to the current OS Deploy Server. The deploy server responds with the file specifying the boot menu item for the given MAC address. If the MAC address of the booting machine is included in the list of target MAC addresses, the machine will boot into Acronis Snap Deploy Agent, despite that Booting from HDD is configured as the default boot menu item. Tuning a PXE server implies that you can guarantee that the woken machines will be served by this PXE server. Normally, you have only one PXE server in the given subnet. Once tuned to the certain OSDS, the PXE server remains tuned at this setting unless it is tuned to another OSDS by another scheduled task. If this setting has never been configured, the woken machine will boot into the component that is configured to start automatically. Type in localhost if the PXE server and the deployment server are on the same machine.

14. 2 Considerations and tips
When enabling or configuring the custom deployment mode with PXE, the program first removes all bootable utilities (Acronis Snap Deploy Agent, Acronis Master Image Creator, PE image) from the PXE server since users might be confused by the unknown items appearing in the boot menu. Then the program uploads to the PXE the templates selected by the administrator. So you will have to upload the bootable utilities again, if they are needed after switching off the custom deployment mode. You can use another Acronis OS Deploy Server to perform manual, scheduled or event-driven deployment while one OS Deploy Server is in the custom deployment mode. To do so, ensure that the targets connect to the appropriate deployment server by specifying the OSDS on the bootable media or by configuring the Acronis Snap Deploy Agent at boot up. The deploy servers cannot share the Acronis PXE Server though.
14. 3 Setting up the custom deployment mode
Steps: 1. Install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console and Acronis License Server. Import licenses to the license server. Install Acronis OS Deploy Server and Acronis PXE Server. 2. Create bootable media with Acronis Master Image Creator. 3. Configure and image the master system(s). 4. Create and save the deployment templates according to your organizations needs. Assign to each template a name that can be easily understood by the users. 5. Connect to the Acronis OS Deploy Server. If some deployment operations are active, either cancel the operations or wait until the operations are completed. 6. Click Switch to Custom Deployment Mode on the sidebar. 7. Select the templates to be added to the boot menu.
Adding templates to the custom boot menu
8. Select Create boot media 9. Select whether you want to create removable media, the media ISO or upload the templates to Acronis PXE Server. Having saved the media ISO, you can create as many media copies as the users need using third-party CD/DVD burning software. 10. The templates being uploaded to the PXE server can be protected with a password to prevent the templates from unauthorized execution. The password prompt will come up before displaying the Acronis boot menu. 11. Review the operation summary and click Proceed 12. The program creates the media with the custom boot menu. Acronis OS Deploy Server switches to the custom deployment mode.

Acronis OS Deploy Server is in custom deployment mode
12. The Custom Deployment tab shows the status of deployment operations performed on users requests. The tab is empty if none of the users are deploying at the moment. While the deploy server is in custom deployment mode, you are able to: - change parameters of the custom deployment mode - create new media for the custom deployment mode - stop the selected operation, if need be, by selecting Cancel Deployment - switch off the custom deployment mode. The user that requested deployment sees the following screen while the deployment is progress.
Custom deployment in progress: view on the target side
14. 4 Changing parameters of the custom deployment mode
To change the templates or the boot menu password, used in the custom deployment mode, you will have to re-configure the custom deployment mode. 1. If some user-initiated deployment operations are active, either stop the operations or wait until the operations are completed. 2. Click Custom Deploy Parameters on the sidebar and repeat steps 6-10 in section 14.3.
14. 5 Closing the custom deployment mode
1. If some user-initiated deployment operations are active, either stop the operations or wait until the operations are completed. 2. Click Switch off the custom deployment mode on the sidebar. 3. In case the custom deployment mode used Acronis PXE Server, the program has to remove custom boot media from the server. Type in the credentials for the PXE server, if prompted.
15. Command line and scripting under Win PE and Bart PE
Windows Preinstallation Environment (Win PE) is a minimal Windows system based on the Windows XP Professional, the Windows Server 2003 or the Windows Vista kernels. Win PE is commonly used by OEMs and corporations for deployment, test, diagnostic and system repair purposes. Acronis Snap Deploy provides a command line utility that can be added to a Windows Preinstallation Environment (Win PE) image. The Acronis Universal Deploy add-on, if installed, will also be included in the PE. The administrator can then upload the PE to a PXE server or transfer the PE image onto removable media. Having booted a machine in Preinstallation Environment, the administrator can perform imaging or deployment in the command line mode or execute scripts. Section 15.4 Sample scenarios provides examples of what you can do in PE. Limitation: Acronis Snap Deploy command line utility can generate a new SID but cannot adjust other settings on the fly. To change the computer name, domain or workgroup membership and other settings, apply the Microsoft System Preparation Tool (Sysprep) to the master system and specify the new settings in the Sysprep.inf answer file.
15.1 Adding ASD command line utility to PE
15.1.1 Acronis Snap Deploy PE Builder
Acronis Snap Deploy PE Builder is a dedicated component for adding Acronis Snap Deploy command line utility to PE image. Acronis Snap Deploy PE Builder is installed with the Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console Typical or Complete installation. You can install the PE Builder alone using the Custom way of installation.

/start:[start sector]

/size:[partition size in sectors] /fat16_32
/restore_bootable:[auto :on:off]
/type:[active | primary | logical]
Sets the deployed partition to active, primary or logical, if possible (for example, there cannot be more than four primary partitions on the disk.) Setting a partition to active always sets it to primary, while a partition set to primary may stay inactive. If the type is not specified, the program tries to keep the target partition type. If the target partition is active, the deployed partition is set to active. If the target partition is primary, and there are other primary partitions on the disk, one of them will be set to active, while the deployed partition becomes primary. If no other primary partitions remain on the disk, the deployed partition is set to active. When deploying a partition on unallocated space, the program extracts the partition type from the image. For the primary partition, the type will be set as follows: - if the target disk is the 1st according to BIOS and it has no other primary partitions, the deployed partition will be set to active - if the target disk is the 1st according to BIOS and there are other primary partitions on it, the deployed partition will be set to logical - if the target disk is not the 1st, the deployed partition will be set to logical.

/preserve_mbr

When deploying a partition over an existing one, the target partition is deleted from the disk along with its entry in the target disk MBR. Then, with the /preserve_mbr option, the deployed partitions entry will occupy the upper empty position in the target disk MBR. Thus, the target disk MBR is preserved. If not specified, the deployed partitions entry will occupy the same position as in the source disk MBR saved in the image. If the position is not empty, the existing entry will be moved to another position. Generate the unique security identifier (SID) for the target computer. If not specified, the SID of the master system will be preserved. Specifies the license server if the PE was booted from the PXE server. Permits to take a server product license for deploying a workstation operating system (if the PE was booted from PXE server.)