Monitor the Windows 8.1 Deployment with Configuration Manager

Applies To: Windows 8.1

In this topic, you will learn how to monitor a Windows 8.1 deployment that was started previously using Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager and the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 Deployment Workbench. You will also use the Deployment Workbench to access the computer remotely via the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolkit (DaRT) Remote Connection feature.

For the purposes of this topic, we will use four machines: DC01, CM01, and PC0001. DC01 is a domain controller and CM01 is a machine running Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard. PC0001 is a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) machine to which Windows 8.1 Enterprise has been deployed. DC01, CM01, and PC0001 are all members of the domain contoso.com for the fictitious Contoso Corporation. For more details on the setup for this topic, please see Proof-Of-Concept Environment.

In this topic

• Integrate Configuration Manager with MDT 2013

• Prepare for Zero Touch Installation of Windows 8.1 with Configuration Manager

• Create a Custom Windows PE 5.0 Boot Image with Configuration Manager

• Add a Windows 8.1 Operating System Image Using Configuration Manager

• Create an Application to Deploy with Windows 8.1 Using Configuration Manager

• Add Drivers to a Windows 8.1 Deployment with Windows PE Using Configuration Manager

• Create a Task Sequence with Configuration Manager and MDT

• Finalize the Operating System Configuration for Windows 8.1 Deployment with Configuration Manager

• Deploy Windows 8.1 Using PXE and Configuration Manager

• Refresh a Windows 7 SP1 Client with Windows 8.1 Using Configuration Manager

• Replace a Windows 7 SP1 Client with Windows 8.1 Using Configuration Manager

To monitor an operating system deployment conducted through System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, you will use the Deployment Workbench in MDT 2013 as follows:

1. On CM01, using the Deployment Workbench, expand MDT Production, and use the Monitoring node to view the deployment process (press F5 to refresh).

Note

It takes a little while for the task sequence to start reporting monitor information, so if PC0001 does not appear when you press F5 the first time, wait 20 seconds and try again.

![](images\Dn744300.f6f3bf43-3462-4768-b3f8-7bbe8d516baf(WS.11).png) Figure 39. PC0001 being deployed by Configuration Manager.  
  

2. When you see the PC0001 entry, double-click PC0001, and then click DaRT Remote Control and review the Remote Control option.

   Figure 40. The DaRT Remote Connection Viewer in action.

3. The task sequence will now run and do the following:

   1. Install the Windows 8.1 operating system.

   2. Install the Configuration Manager client and the client hotfix.

   3. Join the machine to the domain.

   4. Install the application added to the task sequence.

Note

You also can use the built-in reports to get information about ongoing deployments. For example, a task sequence report gives you a quick overview of the task sequence progress.

![](images\Dn744300.64195dc9-4efe-445a-a87d-ab0095c79e23(WS.11).png) Figure 41. Deploying PC0001.  
  

4. If time permits, allow the deployment of PC0001 to complete. Then log in as Administrator in the CONTOSO domain and verify that Adobe Reader XI was installed.