Windows 7 Migration Options

Windows 7 Migration Options

David [email protected](310) 857-6867

1http://strominator.com

mailto:[email protected]

Products to consider

• Zinstall• Laplink PCMover

• Microsoft Windows Automated Install Kit• Prowess SmartDeploy Enterprise• Dell/Kace Kbox• Viewfinity User Migration


Other deployment products

• Landesk• Novell Zenworks• Symantec Altiris• Acronis Snap Image



Zinstall

• Advantages– Runs XP as a VM inside of Win7 but with all your

existing user settings– Can continue to use your XP setup and apps– Inexpensive

• Disadvantages – Unstable and can render your drive unusable– Somewhat time consuming for large migrations






Laplink PCMover

• Advantages– Migrate user data and some apps via a special file

called its “moving van”

• Disadvantages– Startup apps usually don’t migrate over– DRM-apps (iTunes) will require re-activation

under Win7










Why use deployment products?

• Best for >10 desktops• Clean consistent image pays off dividends

later on for support• Can automate the most mundane parts of

copying your OS files • Can preserve desktop apps and user files – on

some of these solutions


WAIK









Other Microsoft freebies

• Windows Deployment Services• Business Desktop Deployment Module• Win 7 Upgrade Advisor (useless)



Viewfinity User Migration

• Requires WAIK, AD and other Microsoft tools, such as .Net Framework 3.5 SP1

• Doesn’t migrate the apps, just their settings and user data

• Is free for the time being while it is beta






Kbox












Prowess SmartDeploy







Limitations

• No VMware tools or equivalent installed• A single disk VMDK image – don’t split it up

into smaller files• Don’t join any Windows domains• No VM snapshots taken of the image


To ReviewTool Price Approach Keep existing apps?

Laplink PCMover $20-$60 per PC In place single PC Mostly

Zinstall $89 per PC PC run in VM Yes

WAIK Free Automated WIM Sometimes

Kace Kbox 2100 $4500 for 100 PCs Appliance Sometimes

Viewfinity Free in beta Automated WIM No

Smart Deploy $2000 per site Convert VMDK to VIM

Yes


Questions to answer• How much hardware variation do you have to

cover? • Have you used any of Microsoft deployment tools

in the past? Start with WAIK.• Do you need to keep your existing applications

on each desktop? Then don't consider Viewfinity.• Do you have any experience with VMware? If so,

then start with SmartDeploy. • Are you looking to store a centralized repository

of your desktop images? If so, then consider the Kbox.


Discussion topics

• Is this the time to consider imaged desktops or managed desktops?

• How much variety in vendors and internals do you have to deal with to run Win7?

• How much VM experience do you have?

• What is the total number of desktops to migrate?


For more info

http://strominator.com 56

Documents

Windows 7 Migration Options