Deploying Nano Server Using MDT

It’s all about deploying the Nano Server within your MDT infrastructure. We’re covering the following topics within this article: configuring your MDT to support Nano Server deployment, creating a Nano Server Image with Nano Image Builder and finally testing out the Nano Server task sequence with MDT Build 8443.

Step 1 – download the MDT files and the Nano Server Builder to start the process

Step 2 – extract the MDT files and open the folder

Step 3 – go inside the “Scripts” folder and copy the files

Step 4 – paste the files into your deploymentshare\Scripts folder (make sure you backup your original ZTIConfigure.xml file inside the script folder)

Step 5 – inside the MDT folder go into Tools and copy and paste the *.exe files into your deploymentshare\Tools\x64 folder

Step 6 – inside the MDT folder go into the Templates folder. Copy and paste the files into C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Tools\Templates

Step 7 – time to install your Nano Server Image Builder > double-click on the installation file

Step 8 – Click on “Next”

Step 9 – “Accept the terms…” and click on “Next”

Step 10- Click on “Next”

Step 11 – Click on “Install”

Step 12 – the process should be fast

Step 13 – Click on “Finish”

Step 14 – Locate “Nano Server Image Builder” and open the application

Step 15 – Click on “Next’

Step 16 – Locate your Windows Server 2016 DVD | ISO | Installation files

Step 17 – “Accept the terms….” and click on “Next”

Step 18 – Pick “Physical machine image” if you are using MDT and click on “Browse”

Step 19 – pick a folder to drop the *.wim file into > make sure to give it a name with the *.wim extension attached to it

Step 20 – click on “Next”

Step 21 – click on “Next”

Step 22 – click on “Next”

Step 23 – wait for it….

Step 24 – packages from the Windows Server 2016 files will load up

Step 25 – add your drivers if needed

Step 26 – enter the information if needed

Step 27 – if you want your Nano *.wim image to be added to the domain enter your information here

Step 28 – configure your Network settings and click on “Next”

Step 29 – pick “Create basic Nano Server Image” to continue

Step 30 – click on “Create”

Step 31 – Click on “Close”

Step 32 – your Nano image is completed and it’s super small – time to import it into your MDT server

Step 33 – right-click on the operating system node and choose “import”

Step 34 – from here you want to select “Custom image file”

Step 35 – click on “Browse”

Step 36 – locate your nano serve *.wim image

Step 37 – Click on “Next”

Step 38 – Click on “Next”

Step 39 – Click on “Next”

Step 40 – click on “Finish”

Step 41 – checking out the operating system properties

Step 42 – right-click on the task sequence > pick “New Task Sequence”

Step 43 – enter the information to continue

Step 44 – pick “Nano Server Task Sequence”

Step 45 – choose your nano server operating system

Step 46 – click on “Next”

Step 47 – fill out the information and click on “Next”

Step 48 – enter a password and click on “Next”

Step 49 – Click on “Next”

Step 50 – click on “Close” when it’s done

Step 51 – open your new task sequence. super simple with the Nano server deployment

Step 52 – update your deployment share to push out the Nano server

Step 53 – I’m replacing the WDS boot image with a fresh x64 lite touch image.

Step 54 – PXE boot into your WDS

Step 55 – Pick your deployment

Step 56 – pick “Run the Deployment Wizard….”

Step 57 – log into your deployment share to start the process

Step 58 – pick your Nano server task sequence

Step 59 – configure this step > click on “Next”

Step 60 – configure and click on “Next”

Step 61 – click on “Begin”

Step 62 – got a warning, but the process was completed

Step 63 – restart the machine

Step 64 – log into your Nano server

Step 65 – Congrats we are done!!!