The Hydration Kit for ConfigMgr 2012 RTM is available for download

NOTE: This Hydration kit has been updated, 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 RTM infrastructure in either Hyper-V or VMware: One Domain Controller and one ConfigMgr 2012 RTM member server – Including pre-requisites like .Net Framework, SQL 2008 R2 SP1 CU6 (or higher) and IIS – all fully automated.

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

Download the Hydration Kit for ConfigMgr 2012 RTM (315 kb).

Update 2012-05-11: The Hydration Kit has been updated to support the new SQL Server 2008 requirements for ConfigMgr 2012 that were published April 16, 2012

Update 2012-09-20: The Hydration Kit has been updated to support MDT 2012 Update 1 (since MDT 2012 RTM was removed from Microsoft downloads). Hardcoded values was also removed from all scripts, all settings are now read from the .ini files.

Update 2012-10-09: Fixed a bug in the Install Roles and Features action (causing IIS, BITS and RDC not to be installed).

Overview

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… see the Step-by-Step Guide section

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

Step-by-Step Guide

Note: By default the Hydration is using the C: drive of the host, if you want to use another drive, simply change C: for D: in the powershell scripts.

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):

  • MDT 2012 Update 1
  • SQL Server 2008 R2 x64
  • SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 Update x64 (KB 2528583)
  • SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 CU6 Update x64 (KB 2679367)
  • Sysinternals BGInfo
  • ADK
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with SP1
  • ConfigMgr 2012 RTM
  • ConfigMgr 2012 RTM PreReqs

Note: to download the ConfigMgr 2012 pre-requisites, run the SMSSETUP\BIN\X64\Setupdl.exe application from the ConfigMgr 2012 installation files, specify a temporary download folder and click Download.

Running the Setupdl.exe to download the ConfigMgr 2012 PreReqs

Running the Setupdl.exe to download the ConfigMgr 2012 PreReqs

Step 2 – Prepare the Hydration Environment

Create the hydration deployment share

  1. On the Windows machine that you use to manage Hyper-V or VMware, install ADK (adksetup.exe) selecting only the following components:
    • Deployment Tools
    • Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE)
  2. Install the Microsoft .NET FrameWork 3.5.1 feature
  3. Install MDT 2012 Update 1 (MicrosoftDeploymentToolkit2012_x64.msi) with the default settings.
  4. Extract the HydrationCM2012RTM.zip sample file to C:.
  5. You should now have the following folder containing a few subfolders and PowerShell scripts.

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\Source

  6. In an elevated (run as Administrator) PowerShell command prompt, configure Execution Policy in PowerShell by typing the following command:

    Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force

  7. In the PowerShell command prompt, change directory (CD or Set-Location) to C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\Source and create the hydration deployment share by running the following command:

    1_CreateHydrationDeploymentShare.ps1

  8. Merge the hydration kit content with the new deployment share by running the following command:

    2_MergeDeploymentShareWithHydrationKit.ps1

Populate the hydration deployment share with the downloaded files

  1. Copy the BGInfo file (bginfo.exe) to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Applications\Install – BGInfo\Source
  2. Copy the SQL Server 2008 R2 installation files (the content of the ISO, not the actual ISO) to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Applications\Install – SQL Server 2008 R2\Source
  3. Copy the SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 x64 installation file (SQLServer2008R2SP1-KB2528583-x64-ENU.exe) to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Applications\Install – SQL Server 2008 R2 x64 SP1 (Update)\Source
  4. Copy the SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 CU6 installation files (SQLServer2008R2-KB2679367-x64.exe) to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Applications\Install – SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 CU6\Source
  5. Copy the ConfigMgr 2012 installation files to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Applications\Install – ConfigMgr 2012\Source
  6. Copy the ConfigMgr 2012 PreReq files to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Applications\Install – ConfigMgr 2012\PreReqs
  7. Copy the ConfigMgr 2012 EXTADSCH.exe file (SMSSETUPBINX64) to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Applications\Configure – Extend AD for ConfigMgr 2012\Source
  8. Copy the .NET Framework installation file (dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe. found in the C:tmpprereqs folder) to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Applications\Install – NET FrameWork 4.0\Source
  9. Copy the Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 installation image (install.wim, found in the Sources folder) to the following folder:

    C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\DS\Operating Systems\Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Eng x64

Create the hydration ISO (MDT 2012 Update offline media item)

  1. Using Deployment Workbench (available on the start menu), expand Deployment Shares, and expand Hydration CM 2012 RTM.   
  2. Review the various nodes. The Applications, Operating Systems and Task Sequences nodes should all have some content in them.
    Deployment Workbench listing the hydration task sequences
  3. Expand the Advanced Configuration node, and then select the Media node.   
  4. In the right pane, right-click the MEDIA001 item, and select Update Media Content.

    Note: The media update will take a while to run, a perfect time for a coffee break.

After the media update you will have a big ISO (HydrationCM2012RTM.iso) in the C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\ISO folder. The HydrationCM2012RTM.iso should be about 10 GB in size.

Step 3 – Deploy the virtual machines

Deploying DC01

  1. Using Hyper-V Manager or VMware Sphere, create a virtual machine with the following settings:
    1. Name: DC01
    2. Hard drive: 100 GB (dynamic disk)
    3. Memory: 1 GB
    4. Network: Your lab network
    5. Image file (ISO): C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\ISO\HydrationCM2012RTM.iso
  2. Start the DC01 virtual machine. After booting from HydrationCM2012RTM.iso, and after WinPE has loaded, select the DC01 task sequence.
  3. Wait until the setup is complete and you see the Hydration Complete message in the final summary.
  4. Leave DC01 running while deploying the other virtual machine (CM01).

Deploying CM01

  1. Using Hyper-V Manager or VMware Sphere, create a virtual machine with the following settings:
    1. Name: CM01
    2. Hard drive: 300 GB (dynamic disk)
    3. Memory: 6 GB (minimum, 16 GB RAM recommended)
    4. Network: Your lab network
    5. Image file (ISO): C:\HydrationCM2012RTM\ISO\HydrationCM2012RTM.iso
  2. Start the CM01 virtual machine. After booting from HydrationCM2012RTM.iso, and after WinPE has loaded, select the CM01 task sequence.
  3. Wait until the setup is complete and you see the Hydration Complete message in the final summary.

Additional Configuration Notes:

If you need to change server names, IP addresses, domain names, installation paths etc. in the environment, the main configuration is stored in the four .ini files in the ISO\Content\Deploy\Control folder.

For SQL and ConfigMgr settings you need to update the following files in the DS\Applications folder:

  • Install – ConfigMgr 2012ConfigMgr2012Unattend.ini
  • Install – SQL Server 2012ConfigurationFileCM2012.ini

If you change the Administrator password, and/or domain name, you also need to update the Authorize DHCP credentials in the DC01 task sequence.

/ Johan

About the author

Johan Arwidmark

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sandpappa
sandpappa
9 years ago

Is it possible to merge this kit with your old one? Eg add another TS that installs a CM07 on 2012 server? Would be awsome if it quickly could get either a 2007 or a 2012 environment up (or both) and running. Alot of migrations to come…

Admin
Admin
10 years ago

Hi FrederikLeed,

Sorry for the late reply, the lab does not need to have access to Internet during the hydration. But to get the ADK files (2.5 GB or so) you need to run the installer on a machine with Internet access to download them

/ Johan

FrederikLeed
FrederikLeed
10 years ago

It looks like the installer need ADK to be installed to complete installation, but no where during the installation is the ADK installed? My Lab is not internet connected, is that needed?

Admin
Admin
10 years ago

Hi Ramon,

Thanks for the feedback, I have updated the documentation

/ Johan

rbruin
rbruin
10 years ago

Manny thanks, I got it working now!

But I had to fix some errors in you manual, these changes made it work for me:
I had to run the 2_MergeDeploymentShareWithHydrationKit.ps1 script in powershell in the root of C:HydrationCM2012RTMSource to avoid errors

C:HydrationCM2012RTMDSConfigure – Extend AD for ConfigMgr 2012Source ***should be:
C:HydrationCM2012RTMDSApplicationsConfigure – Extend AD for ConfigMgr 2012Source

C:HydrationCM2012RTMDSInstall – NET FrameWork 4.0Source ***should be:
C:HydrationCM2012RTMDSApplicationsInstall – NET FrameWork 4.0Source

Copy the Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 installation files (the content of the ISO, not the actual ISO) to the following folder:
Here you should only copy the install.wim file from the source directory

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

The kit is now updated for MDT 2012 Update 1

/ Johan

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Standard is fine, just open the workbench, import the standard edition (as an OS), and update the task sequences to use that os

/ Johan

rbruin
rbruin
11 years ago

What do I need to change in the kit to get it working with MDT 2012 Update 1?
I have seached the web for MDT 2012 RTM, but I can't find it anywhere….

Thanks,
Ramon

MikhailCompo
MikhailCompo
11 years ago

Do both these servers need to be Enterprise, or will Standard be sufficient?

If i change the clg file, will that work to use the different flavour?

cryptonym
cryptonym
11 years ago

I've gone out now and looked high and low for the old "rtm" original, with no luck. All the links seem to lead back to the MDT2012Up1 page. Moreover, MS has a "archive" link on the 2012Up1 page that looks promising, but it only has 2010 builds on it. So, it would appear that 2012RTM is lost to time, unless someone has it and could post a link. As it sits now I cannot hydrate with what I have it would seem.

Thanks.

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

This error is normally because you are using MDT 2012 Update 1 rather than the MDT 2012 RTM version the kit was developed for.

Since I have started to receive quite many emails from people using the wrong MDT version, I guess I need to update the kit to the current version of MDT 2012 (that is Update 1)

/ Johan

cryptonym
cryptonym
11 years ago

Hi everyone, Similar to a posting several lines above, at the completion of the install, it fails. I added the SkipRoles=YES, and it no longer prompts at the start now for roles, but still fails the same way. I notice that it is complaining of a dns failure, and also in looking at the ts.xml on DC01 do not see any entry to install dns, even though the config itself on the image selection screen says it sets up the DC with dhcp and dns. The OS image is from en_windows_2008_r2_standard_enterprise_datacenter_and_web_with_sp1_x64_dvd_617601.iso. It identifies as 2008R2 Enterprise once installed. FAILURE (9002… Read more »

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

This kit was created and tested on MDT 2012 RTM, you are using MDT 2012 Update 1 🙂

Should work fine anyway, just add in SkipRoles=YES in the customsettings.ini file in the HydrationISO structure.

/ Johan

jorgeL
jorgeL
11 years ago

johanhow are you? I hope everything is well with you.quick question. I follow step by step the configuration above. I am able to mount the iso on my VM boot up the litetouch and go thru the configuration. I choose the DC1, but when i get to the Roles and features I can see the whole list, but none of the boxes are checked. Does it supposed to be already configured or we need to check the boxes to configured the DC1.Also the application wizard page none of the boxes are checked either.I've done this configuration twice and I get… Read more »

jorgeL
jorgeL
11 years ago

johanhow are you? I hope everything is well with you.quick question. I follow step by step the configuration above. I am able to mount the iso on my VM boot up the litetouch and go thru the configuration. I choose the DC1, but when i get to the Roles and features I can see the whole list, but none of the boxes are checked. Does it supposed to be already configured or we need to check the boxes to configured the DC1.Also the application wizard page none of the boxes are checked either.I've done this configuration twice and I get… Read more »

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Sure, you can modify the script to add a group instead of the site server name

/ Johan

Charles
Charles
11 years ago

Hi,

if i would like to add a group name e.g SCCM-Siteservers to the system management container instead of directly adding CM01 how would this be done in the Configure-SetADPermissionsForConfigMgr2012.wsf script?

thanks in advance for any help.

Charles

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Thanks for the comment, I have updated the article…

/ Johan

Binkan
Binkan
11 years ago

ABOUT THIS:
Additional Configuration Notes:

If you need to change server names, IP addresses, domain names etc. in the environement, the main configuration is stored in the four .ini files in the SourceMedia001Control folder. If you change the domain you also need to update the following files (thanks Bernd for reminding me).

HydrationDSApplicationsConfigure – Create AD StructureConfigure-CreateADStructures.vbs
HydrationDSApplicationsInstall – ConfigMgr 2012ConfigMgr2012Unattend.ini
HydrationDSApplicationsInstall – SQL Server 2008 R2ConfigurationFile.ini
—————-
You have to edit this too:
HydrationDSApplicationsConfigure – Set AD permissions for ConfigMgr 2012Configure-SetADPermissionsForConfigMgr2012.wsf
This row:strFullComputer = UCase(objADS.DomainShortName & "CM01$")
Change CM01 to the name of your own server

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

The only thing that comes to mind is may be wrong version of Windows Server 2008… I have only tested the sequences with Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

/ Johan

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Hi Mikhail, the Sys_Ctr_ConfigMgrClt_ML_2012_MultiLang_Client_SCEP_MLF_X17-95285 appears to be client language packs only, you need to ConfigMgr 2012 ISO

/ Johan

Emmetd
Emmetd
11 years ago

I have also got the similar error when CM01 finished.

this one says Failed to run the last action: Install – WDS. Execution of task sequence failed.

Emmetd
Emmetd
11 years ago

I have also got the similar error when CM01 finished.

this one says Failed to run the last action: Install – WDS. Execution of task sequence failed.

Emmetd
Emmetd
11 years ago

Hi, Can anyone tell me why I got the following errors after the DC01 task sequence finished? Is it becasue I did not select anyoperating system roles at the start of the task sequence?Do I need to selct roles for CM01 or are these added through the task sequence. FAILURE (9002 ) Unable to locate the selected set of roles in ServerManager.xml(OSRolelndex =)Lrtetouch deployment failed, Return code = 2147467259 0x80004005Failed to run the action: install – ADDSDNS server failure. (Error 0000232A Source: Windows)The execution of the group (Install Active Directory) has failed and the execution has been aborted. An action… Read more »

Emmetd
Emmetd
11 years ago

Hi, Can anyone tell me why I got the following errors after the DC01 task sequence finished? Is it becasue I did not select anyoperating system roles at the start of the task sequence?Do I need to selct roles for CM01 or are these added through the task sequence. FAILURE (9002 ) Unable to locate the selected set of roles in ServerManager.xml(OSRolelndex =)Lrtetouch deployment failed, Return code = 2147467259 0x80004005Failed to run the action: install – ADDSDNS server failure. (Error 0000232A Source: Windows)The execution of the group (Install Active Directory) has failed and the execution has been aborted. An action… Read more »

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

The Configure-SetADPermissionsForConfigMgr2012.wsf adds one set of permissions for full control on the System Management container and another set of full control for all descendant objects.

/ Johan

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

You can change the password by modifying the AdminPassword=P@ssw0rd line in CustomSettings.ini (Media001/Control folder)

As for the setup issue, check the ConfigMgrSetup.log and Install-ConfigMgr2012.log files on CM01.

Most common reason for ConfigMgr setup failing is that SQL did not installed correctly due due missing or incorrect installation files for SQL.

/ Johan

MikhailCompo
MikhailCompo
11 years ago

Well now that i have had time to start to look at ConfigMgr itself, I realise that its not installed on CM01 at all!

Can I check that I have the correct installation media for configmgr? Using MVLS, i have downloaded the ISO Sys_Ctr_ConfigMgrClt_ML_2012_MultiLang_Client_SCEP_MLF_X17-95285 – it is that I have extracted to [x]:HydrationCM2012RTMHydrationDSApplicationsInstall – ConfigMgr 2012 RTMSource

Is that correct? Do i not need the unified installer, app controller? vmm manager etc?

MikhailCompo
MikhailCompo
11 years ago

It might be worth me mentioning for UK keyboard users (or other non-US keyboards), the password of P@ssw0rd is:

[Shift+p]
[Shift+2]
ssw
[zero]
rd

On a UK keyboard the second character would normally be Shift+'

Johan – is that something that can be altered prior to OS install, or something the OS prompts for maybe? Sysprep as final step perhaps?

Its not a biggy at all.

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

You can easliy run the DC on just 100 GB, I have updated the article to reflect that, good point, thanks… But I do recommend to dedicate at least 200 GB for the data volume of CM01… you will need it if you want to do somewhat larger testings..

For production environments, our configmgr site server have 6 disk arrays for a total of 700+ GB.

/ Johan

MikhailCompo
MikhailCompo
11 years ago

They say you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you, but i think that 600 GB in total for both machines is way too much and massively overspec'd. The ISO fails when the disks are not large enough. Can you tell me how In our VM setup we dont use expanding disks due to the difficulties in managing the storage, i can make an exception to use this very helpful tool to setup the lab, but can you tell me how i can easily reduce the disk size that is required for the two machines – particularly the DC which… Read more »

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Windows Server 2012 is not supported as a host OS for SCCM, and deployment of Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate (build 8400) is not supported until MDT 2012 Update 1 and SCCM 2012 SP1 (both currently in beta/CTP).

Technically you can get Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate deployed using MDT 2012 if you update the unattend.xml file, but I recommend wait testing this in lab until the beta version of MDT 2012 Update 1 is released.

/ Johan

asc
asc
11 years ago

Hi Johan,

first of all I need to thank you for this great Article and the work done ! Very Well Done !

May I ask a silly question since I´d just started with MDT / SCCM at all. But is it possible to explain shortly how to integrate Win Server 2012 as SCCM and DC OS?

Thanks a lot
ASC

babernathy
babernathy
11 years ago

I figured it out. I had the wrong version of OS for the install.wim file..

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Impossible to say without the log files… send me the logs (alias is my last name, and I'm using gmail).

/ Johan

babernathy
babernathy
11 years ago

I am having trouble with the DC build I get an error about the DISM.exe. -2147467259 any ideas what I might have done wrong? thanks in advance. I am running windows 8RP using hyper v to build these out.

regicide
regicide
11 years ago

Hi Johan, thanks for awesome work, you rock!

I got a question regarding the "Configure-SetADPermissionsForConfigMgr2012.wsf" script.

When I run this script it adds computer permission to "System Management" OU, but it does only add "Full control" to "This object only".

Is there any way to modify the script to set "Full control" permission for "This object and all descendant objects" for the computer account its adding?

Thanks!

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

The additional progress info is new in MDT 2012 when configured to use imagex for deployment. E.g. when not adding the setup files.

/ Johan

chappy
chappy
11 years ago

May i ask how you managed to get the progress bar showing percentage and time left during Task Sequence Step "Install Operating System"?
If i create task sequences within MDT2012 it switches from the progress bar to the standard Windows Setup Screen?
I already posted that question in Technet, maybe you can help me out?

social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/mdt/thread/4457d747-b2d2-4428-ae9f-9facbde6d5d2

thanks a lot.

Stefan

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Only for simplicity and flexibility… You can still run the script to create the vm's but it turned out being too limiting for people connecting a task sequence for a given mac address.

/ Johan

chappy
chappy
11 years ago

Hi,

first of all thanks for this great Article ! Well Done !
Is there any reason, why the automatic VM creation Powershell script which was included in the SCCM 2007 Hydration Kit has been removed?

Thanks

Stefan

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

You should have a minimum 16 GB of RAM on the host, even for a small Lab and Test environment. I'm currently upgrading my lab servers to 32 GB RAM to run a more production like environment. We still use only 16 GB RAM for trainings though, and that works fine… I have been running the CM01 machine virtual machine with as low as 6 GB of RAM for lab and test, but its not pretty. Currently I'm running CM01 with 10 GB of RAM and it's pretty ok even though I'm under the minimal requirements for the product. If… Read more »

pschwartz
pschwartz
11 years ago

Hi Johan!

My problem is a test laptop with only 4GB physical memory. Is it posible to change some ini-file to get the CM01 installation work with 2,5GB memory? DC01 installaion works 100%
Thanks for your good work with this hydration kit!!!
Tack för info/Thanks for info!
// Per

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Yep, also in the SQL ConfigurationFile.ini

/ Johan

berndw
berndw
11 years ago

Hi Johan,

found another one. The domain name is also included in your SCCM 2012 unattended – file (ConfigMgr2012Unattend.ini).
SDKServer, ManagementPoint and DistributionPoint values needs to be updated.

Best regards,
Bernd

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Hi Bernd,

Thanks for the tip, I'll update the instructions for now…

/ Johan

berndw
berndw
11 years ago

Hi Johan,

first of all I'd like to thank you so much for this great stuff!

I tried to change the domain name and noticed that your default domain (the dc=deploy,dc=net) is written hard coded inside the script "Configure-CreateADStructures.vbs" so the OUs didn't get created in my environment.

Maybe you'd like to change this.

Best regards,
Bernd

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

If you get Error: 13 = Type mismatch its because you didn't add enough RAM ( 4 GB) to the virtual machine… The MDt 2012 Valdiation is a bit broken…

/ Johan

Admin
Admin
11 years ago

Deploying servers using a base image and a post-installation task sequence as a template is great… we use that all the time for our various server roles that we have…

/ Johan

ctwyatt
ctwyatt
11 years ago

Good stuff! So, I haven't tried this yet, but it looks like a good solution or atleast part of a solution for an upcoming project I have. However, I think I should get some opinions first. In essence the project is going to be to deploy over 400 servers (probably Core Enterprise) 2008R2 boxes with 7 Hyper-V VMs, as follows: 2 SCCM 2012 servers; 2 'normal' Server 08R2 w/ 3rd party sofwtare & possibly SQL 08 (not sure yet); 2 Linux boxes with Casper appliance (unknown yet what specific OS); and 1 Windows 7 Enterprise (also with specialized 3rd Party… Read more »


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