Auto Install ZENworks Image Engine on USB using UNetbootin

Install ZENworks Image Engine on USB using UNetBootin

Quick tool to install the bootcd.iso (ZENworks 11.1), using Unetbootin, onto a USB Pen Drive.

UNetbootin is an excellent tool to create bootable USB Pen Drives. In this guide I use UNetbootin to put the bootcd.iso file onto a USB Pen Drive and then use this instead of using a CD.

Out of the box this installation script will create a bootable USB, with UNetbootin launching the ZENworks Imaging engine. From this you can pull images from a Proxy Server, launch a preboot script and pull images from the local USB Pen Drive.

Read the settings.txt and PrebootscriptUSB.s files (attached) to see more.

This only takes about 5-10 minutes, all depending on how much you want to do from the USB Pen Drive. Reading this will probably take longer than the execution :)

Things you need:

The files attached (USBIMAGE.zip)

Bootcd.iso: from your own environment or get the latest Imaging Driver Update from http://download.novell.com
(the Bootcd.iso attached to this, is from the ZCM11.1 sept. driver update. So if you are on this version, no need to replace it)

A Windows PC with PowerShell 2.0

Software used: UNetbootin: free download from http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net

Inspiration found at: http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/tools/18294.html

Novell ZENworks 7/11 documentation.

Warning, I can't guarantee this works on all USB pen drives. And do remember that under this process the drive will be cleaned, so backup any data you may have on it before starting.

All the files in this guide are located in C:\USBIMAGE\

Step one

Extract the attached files to "C:\" (Very important the path is "C:\USBIMAGE\")

Step two

If needed, paste your own bootcd.iso file to "C:\USBIMAGE\"
(tested with iso files from 10.3.3, 11.1a, 11.2)

If you want to edit the settings.txt file, use the file (template) from "C:\USBIMAGE\setting\". I've edited this, so it works with local imaging from the USB Device.

You can then manually add it to the bootcd.iso, using eg. MagicISO. Or just leave it in the setting folder, the file, from "C:\USBIMAGE\setting\", will automatically be copied to the USB during installation.

Step three

Add, if any, your own images and/or prebootscripts.

If you want to pull images from the USB, you can use the "PrebootScriptUSB.s" script file as your template. If you want to pull images from a PROXY, just active the PROXY part.

Place your images (.zmg files) in the folder "C:\USBIMAGE\IMAGES\IMG\"

If you use addon-images, you could place them in the addon folder. All depending on how you want the structure. I place mine in this folder, as you can se in the attached example of a preboot script.

Place your preboot-script (.s file) in the folder "C:\USBIMAGE\Scripts\PreBoot\"

Feel free to use my example and modify it so it fits your demands.

Step four

Connect the USB Pen Drive to your PC.

Warning! You must only connect one USB device to the PC. All content on it will be erased.

Step five

Run the installation.

YOU NEED TO BE LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR TO RUN THIS WITH SUCCESS

Execute the file: C:\USBIMAGE\RunScript.bat

This will run a PowerShell script. This formats the drive, runs UNetbooting and copies the edited and needed files.

Just follow the few instructions on the screen :)

The windows should look like this:

Click to view.

When the window is closed your done.

Now your USB Pen Drive is ready.

Enjoy!

Note: if you experience any problems with the detection of the USB Pen Drive during boot, you should look into the syslinux.cfg file and change this part so it fits your device:

install=hd:/dev/sdb1 root=/dev/sdb1

(Could instead be "install=hd:/dev/sdb root=/dev/sdb")

Any ideas of enhancement regarding this tool is welcome.