Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) is a free Microsoft tool used to deploy Windows operating systems, applications, drivers, and updates. It is designed to automate the process of deploying Windows operating systems and applications to both physical and virtual computers.

MDT is a deployment solution that allows organizations to deploy Windows client and server operating systems, applications, and updates to computers in the enterprise. It is managed from the Deployment Workbench console, where administrators import operating systems, device drivers, applications, and packages into deployment shares and build task sequences.

MDT supports Lite Touch Installation (LTI), which runs from its own deployment shares and boot media, and it integrates with Microsoft Configuration Manager for Zero Touch Installation (ZTI) and User-Driven Installation (UDI). Microsoft has retired MDT: it no longer receives updates, fixes, or support, and its download packages have been removed from official channels, although existing installations keep working. Microsoft recommends Windows Autopilot or Configuration Manager operating system deployment instead.

The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit provides a unified, efficient, and extensible approach for automating the deployment of Windows operating systems on physical and virtual systems.

MDT Features:

• Automated Deployment: MDT provides an automated deployment solution that is designed to simplify and streamline the process of deploying Windows operating systems, applications, and updates. Deployment wizards and rules can answer most setup questions, so a computer can be installed with little or no interaction.

• Deployment Workbench: The Deployment Workbench console gives administrators control over the whole deployment process. It is used to create and upgrade deployment shares, import operating systems, drivers, applications, and packages, and generate Windows PE boot images.

• Network and Media Deployment: Computers can be installed over the network from a deployment share or offline from media deployment shares, on both physical and virtual machines, including new computers, refresh, and replace scenarios.

• Application Deployment: MDT installs applications as steps of a deployment, with or without source files, and lets administrators group them into bundles and define dependencies between them.

• Reference Images: MDT can build and capture a reference image of a configured Windows installation and then deploy that custom image to many computers. User files and settings can be migrated with the User State Migration Tool (USMT).

• Task Sequences: Every deployment is driven by a task sequence, and the latest build supports nested task sequences for LTI. Rules in CustomSettings.ini and the Gather step collect hardware details and apply settings per computer or model.

• Monitoring: The Monitoring node of the Deployment Workbench shows the progress and status of running deployments, so administrators can follow each computer during installation.

• Status: MDT build 8456 is the latest release. It supports deploying Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 and 2019, does not support Windows 10 ARM64, and will not receive compatibility updates for newer Windows releases. MDT requires the Windows ADK for Windows 10 together with its Windows PE add-on. When MDT is upgraded from build 8450, existing deployment shares, distribution points, and databases are preserved.