Mirage is unique in its ability to perform an in-place upgrade of the operating system from Windows XP to Windows 7. After you have created your corporate Windows 7 Base Layer image, then you stream down that Base Layer to the business user endpoint devices. Now, if you have a very large environment, you will use collections to deploy the Windows 7 Base Layer image to a segment your user population. These can be static collections based on site location, floors, or departments.
As the core image streams down to the endpoint device, the user is still able to continue to work on their current Windows XP operating system.
Before the new Windows 7 Base Layer image that has been staged on the endpoint device is deployed, the Mirage Server takes a pre-deployment snapshot of the device.
After the snapshot is completed, then the client is restarted and configured with the new Windows 7 Base Layer image. The downtime is about 15 to 20 minutes while the new OS is applied and configured.
If something goes wrong? The Executive VP of Sales says his legacy sales application isn't working on the new Windows 7 image. He is glaring at you! Beads of sweat are trickling down his forehead. You simply restore his Windows XP image to its previous state from the last snapshot (including all user data and applications).
Let's take a look at the steps typically involved with traditional desktop upgrades without Mirage:
- Deliver user loaner laptop
- Back-up user data
- Re-image to Windows 7
- Re-join domain
- Install updates
- Install corporate apps
- Restore user data
- Run USMT
- Bring back to users off
- Assign Windows 7 base image
- Clients downloads bits optimally
- Client reboots into Windows 7, automatic domain join, profile migrated
In my next installment, we will dive into Endpoint Protection and Endpoint Repair.
