Group Policy Objects

Nov 19 2008   5:59PM GMT

Exam 70-624 TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops

Posted by: Ed Tittel
Desktops, Enterprise desktop, Group Policy Objects, Windows Vista, MCSA, MCTS, Vista Upgrade Advisor, Windows Vista troubleshooting, Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, Windows Update, Windows Vista SP1, Vista System Health Report, Vista application compatibility, Vista ACT, Vista ACT resources, MS Exam 70-623, 70-624, MS Exam 74-134

Another doozy of a title, this exam is likely to appeal to IT professionals who work with Vista in all situations (SOHO, SMB, tech support, enterprise, and so forth) and of all stripes (help desk, tech support, IT administration, and so on). As with other exams in the 70-620 through 70-625 Vista sequence, this one’s Preparation Guide follows the old-style format. In short, anybody who deploys or maintains Windows Vista desktops is likely to benefit from studying for and taking this exam, even though its official target audience is candidates with “a minimum of one year of experience managing day-to-day issues with desktop deployments.”

There’s one more incredibly useful nugget inside this prep guide. It reads: “This exam is the Windows Vista version of Exam 74-134: Pre-Installing Microsoft Products and Technologies, [and is] focused on the OEM Pre-Installation Kit (OPK).” Why so? Because you’ll find some great links to study materials for the other exam on its prep page (linked at the head of this paragraph) that don’t appear on the 70-624 exam page.

The prep tools and resources that appear on the 70-624 page include the following:

• Classroom training: Course 5105: Deploying Windows Vista Business Desktops and Course 5058: Deploying Microsoft Office 2007 Professional.
• e-learning offerings: Collection 5058: Deploying 2007 Microsoft Office System Client Products.

The lack of books and complete e-learning coverage explains nicely why the 74-134 page is referenced, and also why it’s a good idea to dig up its study material citations to help you get ready for this exam as well.

Skills measured on the 70-624 exam break down as follows:

• Deploying 2007 MS Office System:
  Configure MS Office settings & components, install 2007 MS Office system, and migrate from earlier MS Office versions.
• Configuring Windows Vista Automated Installation Settings:
  Configure Vista automated install settings, manage Windows Vista catalogs, add device drivers to Vista installs, manage Windows components, and configure and manipulate Windows Imaging Format (WIM) images.
• Deploying Windows Vista:
  Deploy Vista using Lite Touch Installation (LTI) and Zero Touch Installation (ZTI), customize Windows Preinstallation Environment (PE), and troubleshoot deployment issues.
• Using Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) Workbench:
  Install BDD, configure distribution point in BDD 2007 Workbench, create a reference computer image, manage XML files in BDD Workbench, automate 2007 MS Office system installation, and customize and maintain Windows PE in BDD Workbench.
• Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT):
  Install and configure ACT 5, deploy ACT 5 agents, report application compatibility, and fix compatibility issues.
• Managing User State Migration:
  Upgrade user state from XP to Vista, automate user state migration, manage Vista deployments using SMS 2003, determine Operating System Deployment (OSD) prerequisites, install and configure SMS 2003 OSD Feature Pack, and troubleshoot and plan for user state migrations.

There’s a lot more to this exam than the title conveys, especially where automation, deployment, and user state migration are concerned. This one’s going to take some work and experience to get through, so be prepared to invest substantial time and effort in preparing, unless you work with these tools and technologies on a daily basis. My guess is that those conditions hold only in enterprises or outside services companies big or specialized enough to have their own Vista deployment teams. How many of those can there be? The total count for MCTS: Business Desktop Deployment certified professionals as of 10/27/08 is 4,868, so the answer could be: “More than you think!”

Oct 28 2008   11:37AM GMT

Need Help or Insight into Vista GPOs? Try These Books…

Posted by: Ed Tittel
Desktops, Group Policy Objects, Group Policy, GPOs, Jeremy Moskowitz, Derek Melber

It’s difficult to make the most of a modern Windows desktop in an enterprise environment without dealing with Group Policy, and the many objects (usually called GPOs) used to implement and enforce Group Policy in the Windows environment. Group Policy has tons of functionality that is both very board and really deep. Want to lock down the Windows desktop? Try some GPOs. Need to limit application, utility, and Control Panel access? GPOs can do that, too. Want to automate and script desktop and application deployment? GPOs can help! And so forth, and so on, nearly ad infinitum. For those seeking information, advice, examples, and troubleshooting help with GPOs, I recommend these two books:

Jeremy Moskowitz: Group Policy: Management, Troubleshooting, and Security: For Windows Vista , Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 (Mark Minasi Windows Administrator Library), 4e, Sybex/Wiley, April 9, 2007, ISBN-13: 978-0470106426.

The first of these two books is part of the excellent Mark Minasi Windows Administrators Library (a Sybex book, which is now a Wiley imprint). Jeremy Moskowitz did the honors here–he’s a well-known and respected writer on Windows administration topics–and his book focuses on nuts-and-bolts information for working with GPOs in various Windows operating systems, including Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and even Windows 2000. It provides good coverage of Vista and XP security topics, desktop lockdown and control, application management, MS Office topics, deployment scenarios, GPO scripting, and even how to set up and manage roaming profiles for XP and Vista desktops. ($31.49 at Amazon)

Derek Melber: Windows Group Policy Resource Kit: Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista, Microsoft Press, March 15, 2008, ISBN-13: 978-0735625143.

I had the good fortune to work with Derek on several editions of the Exam Cram titles on Windows XP, and got to know and respect his knowledge and skills in working with all aspects of Microsoft desktop operating systems, including GPOs. His Microsoft Press book is a bit shorter than Moskowitz’s offering, but none the less valuable for its more focused coverage of the subject matter. I find the Moskowitz book to be better when troubleshooting GPO issues or mysteries, but this book to be a better general reference and how-to when it comes to implementing GPOs for enterprise use. Melber certainly hits all the key topics related to GPOs in this book, including automating typical administrative tasks, handling policy enforcement, working with system updates and software installations, dealing with security services and settings, and centralized management and control of GPOs. You’ll also find a CD included with the book that offers some nice utilities and various kinds of GPO planning and design aids. Definitely worth the price of admission ($31.49 at Amazon).

Vista admins seeking a good reference book would do well to acquire Melber’s Resource Kit; those looking for a great GPO troubleshooting resource should turn to Moskowitz instead. Me? I have both books, because I need a good reference, and I also appreciate (and use regularly) Moskowitz’s troubleshooting help and his many good examples.