How to Boot OSD from USB devices

You can boot the CapaInstaller OSD environment from a USB key. This is useful when no network boot service is available to the device that you want to deploy. Images and configurations are still fetched from the OS Deployment server over HTTP. You configure the port for this communication when you set up the OS Deployment Service.

Before you start

• A physical USB key. All data on the USB key is deleted.
• The Windows ADK with the Windows PE add-on installed on the computer where you create the USB key. See Download and install the Windows ADK.
• The BuildUSB.ps1 PowerShell script (see below).
• Internet access from the computer where you run the script. The script installs the PsIni PowerShell module from the PowerShell Gallery.
• The device that you boot from the USB key must be able to reach the OS Deployment server over the network.

Create the boot.wim file

1. In the CapaInstaller Console, under OS Deployment, right-click your OS Point.

2. Select Boot Image → Create Boot File….

   

3. Select Create Boot Image for 32-bit systems or Create Boot Image for 64-bit UEFI systems.

   

4. Make sure that the path to your Windows ADK installation is correct.

   

5. Select Next three times.

   

6. Select Commit. The boot file is created.

   

   

7. Locate the boot.wim file that was created.

   

Get the PowerShell script

1. Download BuildUSB.ps1 and save it with the .ps1 extension, for example as C:\USBKeyCreater\BuildUSB.ps1.

2. Open the properties of the downloaded script and make sure that it isn’t blocked.

   

Create the USB key

1. Run a Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment prompt as administrator.

   

2. Run the script from the prompt:

   Powershell -file C:\USBKeyCreater\BuildUSB.ps1

3. In the Create a USB Key window, enter the values for your environment, and then select Build:

   • Path to Wimfile: the boot.wim file that you created.
   • Processor Architecture (ARCH): the architecture of the boot file, for example amd64.
   • Deployment URL: the URL of the OS Deployment service in the format http://<server>:<port>/ciosdeploy.
   • Temporary Working Folder: a local folder that the script can use while it builds the USB key.

   

4. If the temporary working folder already exists, you’re prompted to remove it. Press A for Yes to All.

   

5. Select the USB key in the list, and then select OK in the lower-right corner.

   

6. When you’re prompted to confirm that the USB key is cleared, press Y for Yes.

   

7. Verify that the script completed successfully.

   

8. Verify that the USB key has two partitions: a boot partition with the boot files, and an empty partition named CIREPO.

   

You can now boot the device from the USB key and start OS Deployment.