ZENworks Configuration Management (ZCM) 2020 includes support for Linux and WinPE ZMG imaging. Those using Linux based imaging may experience compatibility issues with newly released hardware causing PXE boot or imaging to fail. Applying the latest ZENworks imaging driver update may resolve the issue, but updates can often take months to be released causing major delays in machine rollouts. Using WinPE with Imaging Toolkit gives customers the ability to add mass-storage and network drivers when required.


ZMG base images created using the Linux imaging engine are incompatible with the WinPE imaging engine and will fail to restore. All Linux ZMG base images you wish to use in WinPE will need to be recaptured or downloaded using the ENGL Image Service. Linux ZMG add-on images are compatible with WinPE and do not need to be recreated. 


This TID provides steps to configure Imaging Toolkit WinPE/ZMG imaging with ZENworks. If you have any feedback or questions about the process, please open a support ticket for assistance.


WARNING! This procedure will take several hours to complete. Attempts to restore images during this time will fail.

 

Requirements

  • Imaging Toolkit 12
  • ZCM 2020 Update 2 (20.2) or later
  • Working ZCM Linux/ZMG with Imaging Toolkit integration
  • Manual migration of any zim.cfg customisations


Procedure

Complete the following steps to migrate an existing ENGL integrated ZENworks Linux/ZMG environment to WinPE/ZMG.


  1. Backup the server TFTP folder.

  2. Copy the entire TFTP folder from the server to the Build Console machine.

  3. If you have made modifications to the zim.cfg, take time to identify what they are and whether they are required in the WinPE environment.

  4. On the Build Console machine, check you are running the latest supported version of the Windows ADK / WinPE add-on according to the ENGL Windows ADK Support Matrix.

  5. Run Build Console

  6. Select Tools > Options, select Integration, select ZENworks Configuration Management (WinPE/ZMG), then click OK.

  7. Start the Integration Wizard.
    1. At the Welcome page, click Next.

    2. At the Desktop Management Version page, select the ZENworks version installed, then click Next.

    3. At the ZCM Configuration page, select Update imaging files and Configure Zim, then click Next.

    4. At the ZENworks Settings page, enter the ZENworks server connection settings, click Test Connection, then click Next.

    5. At the TFTP Integration Tasks page, enter the TFTP source folder path (as copied above), then click Next.

    6. At the Windows PE Localisation page, select a keyboard language, then click Next.

    7. At the Zim Integration Options page, select Update Zim binaries and license, select Create templated Zim script, then click Next.

    8. At the Zim Login Method page, select None, then click Next. Note: If you select LDAP authentication or Simple password, then continue through the wizard until the next step.

    9. At the Zim Restore Menu, click Next.

    10. At the Zim Images Path, leave the path empty, then click Next.

    11. At the Zim Monitor Settings page, select Enable to enable deployment monitoring, select an on-premise Deployment Monitor server or ENGL Monitor Service, then click Next.

      Note: To configure ENGL Monitor Service see this TID for further details.

    12. At the Zim Maintenance Menu page, click Next.

    13. At the Progress page, click Next.

    14. At the Success message, click OK.

    15. At the Finish page, select Open integration folder, then click Finish.

    16. Ensure you have made a backup of the server TFTP folder.

    17. Copy the Integration Wizard created TFTP folder contents to the ZENworks server TFTP folder.

  8. Create WinPE/ZMG compatible base images

    Use one of the following methods to create WinPE/ZMG compatible base images.
    • ENGL Image Service to download a pre-built Enterprise VL base image

      Note: Before continuing, check your Imaging Toolkit subscription download allowance and Windows version/editions/languages availability by visiting the Image Service page.
      1. In the File Library, import Windows media matching the exact Windows version, edition, updated month/year and language of the chosen pre-built image you wish to download.

      2. Right-click the imported Windows media edition, then select ENGL Image Service.

      3. Select a pre-built WinPE/ZMG base image then click Download.

        Note: If pre-built images are not displayed it's likely the media you have imported does not match available pre-built images.

      4. Open a project you wish to deploy using WinPE/ZMG.

      5. In the Expert View, select the imported Windows media for which you have downloaded a pre-built base image, click Save, then click Validate.

      6. Start the Deployment Wizard.

      7. On the Task selection page, select Base image preparation, then click Next.

      8. On the Base image preparation page, select ENGL Image Service, select a downloaded pre-built image, then  click Next.

      9. On the Finish page, ensure Open project folder is selected, then click Finish.

      10. Repeat for each project you wish to use with WinPE/ZMG, but only if they are using different base images.

      11. Backup the existing server Linux/ZMG base images in the OS folder by changing the extensions from .ZMG to .ZMG-Linux to avoid confusion and accidental restore.

      12. In the project images OS folder, locate the newly created base (postsp) image ZMG file, then copy it to the equivalent server images folder.

    • Manually capture a WinPE/ZMG base image
      1. Backup the existing server Linux/ZMG base images in the OS folder by changing the extensions from .ZMG to .ZMG-Linux to avoid confusion and accidental restore.

      2. Follow the steps in the Manually creating the universal base image in the Imaging Toolkit documentation.

  9. Update TFTP imaging configuration
    1. Check the server TFTP zimfiles\projects.ini file to ensure updated projects contain the correct base image filename.

    2. If required modify the server TFTP zim.cfg with your customisations.

      Note: The zim.cfg WinPE/ZMG template is vastly different from the Linux/ZMG template due to the WinPE environment and the method used to partition the disk. Modifications should only be made if absolutely necessary, e.g. LDAP authentication and computer naming logic. Take time to familiarise yourself with the new templated zim.cfg before making any modifications.

  10. Test the restore process on a VM then physical machine.