IT departments typically manage a heterogeneous mix of decentralized client hardware and various software applications. Administration of large scale enterprises requires the use of centralized systems management processes that use consistent methods for managing the diverse network clients. Some typical I/T administrator activities involve deploying standardized corporate operating system images to client hardware, and using a consistent mechanism to gather application software, hardware, and operating systems (OS) information across the network from a central management console.

The Dell™ Client System Deployment CAB provides the mechanism for an I/T administrator to rapidly develop and deploy a customized corporate image on Dell client systems. This whitepaper provides an overview of using the operating systems deployment capabilities of Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007™ to deploy a customized OS image on Dell client systems in a heterogeneous environment.

The intended audiences for this paper are I/T and network administrators or managers who need to understand the intricacies of creating and deploying their own customized images on Dell client systems.