The Hydration Kit for ConfigMgr 2012 RC1 is available for download

NOTE: This Hydration kit has been updated (this was during the ConfigMgr 2012 beta), you probably want to use this one instead:

The Hydration Kit for System Center 2012 R2 is available for download
https://deploymentresearch.com/Research/tabid/62/EntryId/149/The-Hydration-Kit-for-System-Center-2012-R2-is-available-for-download.aspx

Here is a download for deploying a complete ConfigMgr 2012 RC1 infrastructure in either Hyper-V or VMware: One Domain Controller and one ConfigMgr 2012 RC1 member server – Including pre-requisites like .Net Framework, SQL 2008 and IIS – all fully automated.

Once configured, the total build time for the full ConfigMgr 2012 RC1 lab environment is about 1.5 hours (on my laptop). 

Download the Hydration Kit for ConfigMgr 2012 RC1 (141 kb).

To build the lab there are three steps you need to do

1. Download the necessary software
2. Prepare the hydration deployment solution
3. Deploy your virtual machines

Detailed instructions are further down this page…

The Task Sequence that builds the CM01 Server (Member Server with SQL, WDS, IIS and ConfigMgr 2012 RC1)

Hydration Instructions

Step 1 – Download the necessary software

On the machine (client or server) that you use to manage Hyper-V or VMware, create the C:\Downloads folder and download the following software (trial versions are ok too):

• ConfigMgr 2012 RC1
• SQL Server 2008 Enterprise x64
• SQL Server 2008 SP2 Update x64 (KB 2285068)

• SQL Server 2008 SP2 CU 6 Update x64 (KB 2582285)

• SQL Server 2008 Hotfix KB 2603910
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
• Sysinternals BGInfo
• MDT 2010 Update 1
• Windows AIK 2.0 (named Windows AIK for Windows 7 v3.0 on Microsoft download)

Step 2 – Prepare the Hydration environment

1. On your Hyper-V or VMware management machine, make sure PowerShell is installed.  
2. Extract Windows AIK 2.0 (or mount the ISO using an ISO mounting tool like SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive), and install Windows AIK 2.0 with the default settings.  
3. Install MDT 2010 Update 1 with the default settings.  
4. Extract the HydrationCM2012RC1.zip file to C:. You should now have a C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\Source folder with a few folders and PowerShell scripts.  
5. In a PowerShell command prompt, configure Execution Policy in PowerShell, by typing the following command:
   
   Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force
   
6. In the PowerShell command prompt, create the Hydration Deployment Share by running the following command:
   
   C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\Source\1_CreateHydrationDeployment.ps1
   
7. Copy the following folders from C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\Source\HydrationDS to C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS, replace any existing files.

   Applications
   Control
   Operating Systems
   Scripts

8. Extract the ConfigMgr 2012 RC1 installation files to the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – ConfigMgr 2012 RC1\Source folder.  
9. To download the latest ConfigMgr 2012 RC1 pre-requisites, run the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – ConfigMgr 2012 RC1\Source\SMSSETUP\BIN\X64\Setupdl.exe application. In the path textbox, browse to C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – ConfigMgr 2012 RC1\PreReqs and click Download.  
10. Copy the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – ConfigMgr 2012 RC1\Source\SMSSETUP\BIN\X64\EXTADSCH.exe file to C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Configure – Extend AD for ConfigMgr 2012\Source.  
11. Copy the SQL Server 2008 x64 installation files to the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – SQL Server 2008 x64\Source folder.  
12. Copy the SQL Server 2008 x64 SP2 installation files to the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – SQL Server 2008 x64 SP2 (Update)\Source folder  
13. Copy the SQL Server 2008 SP2 CU 6 installation file to the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – SQL Server 2008 SP2 CU 6\Source folder  
14. Copy the SQL Server 2008 Hotfix KB 2603910 installation file to the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – SQL Server 2008 Hotfix (KB 2603910)\Source folder  
15. Copy the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – ConfigMgr 2012 RC1\PreReqs\dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe file to the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – NET Framework 4.0\Source folder  
16. Extract your BGInfo installation files and copy them to C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Applications\Install – BGInfo Source
17. Extract your  Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise installation files (or mount the ISO using an ISO mounting tool like SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive), and copy them to the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationDS\Operating Systems\Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 folder  
18. In the PowerShell command prompt, create the Hydration Media Item by running the following command:
    
    C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\Source\2_CreateHydrationMediaItems.ps1
     
19. Copy the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\Source\Media001\Control folder to C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationISO\Content\Deploy, replace existing files  
20. In the PowerShell command prompt, update the Hydration Media Item (and create the ISO) by running the following command:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\Source\3_UpdateHydrationServersMedia.ps1

Step 3 – Create and deploy the virtual machines

1. In your virtual environment, make sure to have a dedicated virtual network for your virtual machines (since one of them will run a DHCP Server).  
2. Copy the C:\HydrationCM2012RC1\HydrationISO\HydrationCM2012RC1.iso file to wherever folder you use store ISO files in your virtual environment.  
3. Using either Hyper-V Manager or VMware Sphere, create a virtual machine named DC01 with a 300 GB hard drive, and at least 1 GB of RAM. Configure the virtual machine to use the virtual network dedicated for the Hydration, and to boot from the HydrationCM2012RC1.iso file.  
4. Start the DC01 virtual machine, after booting from the iso, select the DC01 Task Sequence, and wait until the setup is complete.  
5. Using either Hyper-V Manager or VMware Sphere, create a virtual machine named CM01 with a 300 GB hard drive, and at least 4 GB of RAM. Configure the virtual machine to use the virtual network dedicated for the Hydration, and to boot from the HydrationCM2012RC1.iso file.  
6. Start the CM01 virtual machine, after booting from the iso, select the CM01 Task Sequence, and wait until the setup is complete.

Additional Notes:

If you need to change server names, IP addresses, domain names etc. in the environement, all configuration is stored in the four .ini files in the Source\Media001\Control folder.

/ Johan