Category:ImageUltra Builder
From Provider Notes
Lenovo’s ImageUltra Builder Imaging System
ImageUltra Builder (IUB) is a part of Lenovo’s ThinkVantage Technology suite of applications and systems. The ThinkVantage suite is the result of Lenovo’s research and development efforts around the challenges of reducing total cost of ownership in today’s PC environment. IUB focuses on the imaging part of a PC's life cycle and takes a modular approach to installing Microsoft’s system software and the applications that will be used on that system.
Usually when we think of a system image we think of a single file or sequence of files that will be de-archived and deposited on a boot disk of a PC. The image may include an operating system with some level of customization such as networking parameters and possibly pre-installed applications. The IUB approach would be a script or what it calls a "map" of installer modules. Each module can be instructed to detect the presence of a particular model and install appropriate device drivers. Also, menus can inserted in the script allowing for real time customizations based on responses at the time of deployment.
IUB utilizes a repository host for developing and deploying images. The repository is similar in structure to a database in that it contains modules that can be viewed and organized by type, such as operating system, device driver, installation map (script), or by platform, such as modules required for a specific laptop or desktop model. A typical operating system module would be MS Windows XP Professional or MS Windows XP Service Pack 2. Device driver module examples would be for a network interface or audio controller hardware.
Deployment of an IUB image can be performed over a network or from a set of CDs or DVDs. The ImageUltra console will even assist in creating a network aware boot CD for deployment. When an ImageUltra image is deployed on Lenovo branded hardware (such as a ThinkCentre or ThinkPad) it will also populate the hidden service partition on the system with the appropriate modules for such a time as when the system needs to be reset due to a system compromise or corruption. Re-imaging is performed with just a few mouse clicks without connecting to the network or having installation CDs available.
- Downside: Due to the action of multiple installers inherent in the "Ultra-Portable" image the deployment can be time consuming and may require several scripted reboots. A typical Ultra-Portable deployment may take two hours depending on the amount of customization and the number of device drivers required for the target system.
IUB will accommodate Symantec Ghost images in a deployment script calling them "Hardware-Specific" images. Such images allow for no customization at the time of deployment and will only install on a specific hardware configuration. The Hardware-Specific images, however, will deploy in about 1/10 of the time Ultra-Portables take. Between these two extremes there is an IUB "Portable-Sysprep" image option which is a hybrid of the Hardware-Specific and the Ultra-Portable image. This option requires a system prototype to be modified using a Lenovo tool called ImageUltra Customization Program (IUBCP.EXE) prior to Syspreping to install hooks in the module to allow for the scripting of additional installers at the time of deployment. The Portable-Sysprep deployment requires that the target system have a high degree of similarity to the prototype system, i.e. similar circuit board or similar chip sets.
