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- Installing viBoot with New Deployment Kit Installs
- Installing viBoot for Existing Deployment Kit Installs
- Booting a Golden Image Using Macrium viBoot
- Selecting a Golden Image to Update
- Using Macrium viBoot with a Sysprepped Image
- Using Macrium viBoot with a non-Sysprepped Image
What is Macrium viBoot?
Macrium viBoot enables you to instantly create, start, and manage Microsoft Hyper-V and VirtualBox virtual machines using a Macrium Reflect image file as the basis of the virtual machine storage sub-system.
Macrium viBoot can be used to boot a golden image as a virtual machine, make the necessary changes and updates to a golden image, then, using the viBoot UI, create a new golden image of the virtual machine. This enables software and operating system updates to be rapidly performed and new software to be installed, ensuring that the golden images are up-to-date and ready for deployment.
Installing Macrium viBoot
Macrium viBoot is included with the Macrium Deployment Kit and is installed alongside the Macrium Reflect Server component of the Deployment Kit. This enables golden images to be easily updated on the system where the Deployment Kit was originally installed.
Installing viBoot with New Deployment Kit Installs
For assistance installing the Deployment Kit for the first time, follow the steps in this article. On the 'Custom Setup' page of the installer, ensure that 'Install viBoot' is selected:
Installing viBoot for Existing Deployment Kit Installs
Macrium viBoot can also be added to existing installations of Macrium Reflect X by navigating to the 'Programs and Features' page of the Windows Control Panel, selecting 'Macrium Reflect Workstation/Server', then selecting 'Change':
In the window that opens, select 'Modify':
On the next page, ensure that 'Install viBoot' is checked:
Select 'Next' and then 'Install' to finish modifying the installation.
Booting a Golden Image Using Macrium viBoot
Selecting a Golden Image to Update
First, select the image that will be updated using viBoot on the 'Existing Backups' tab of Macrium Reflect. Macrium Reflect will search recent backup locations for image files and display them on the 'Existing Backups' tab. If the golden image that will be updated is not visible, additional paths can be searched by using the 'Edit' button:
In the window that opens, enter the path to the image and then select 'Add to list'.
After selecting 'OK', any images found in the path will be displayed in the 'Existing Backups' tab.
Alternatively, image files can be found using Windows Explorer by selecting 'Browse for an image file...':
In the Explorer window that opens, navigate to where the image file(s) are located, select the image that will be restored, then select 'Open':
The image and any other images in the same set that are required to restore the selected image will be displayed in the 'Existing Backups' tab.
Next, select the golden image, then select 'viBoot':
The viBoot wizard will launch on the 'Select Image Files' page with the golden image preselected. Expanding the image will show the partitions that were included in the golden image.
The final page of the New Virtual Machine wizard is where the settings for the virtual machine are specified:
If 'Automatically power on the virtual machine after creation' is selected, the virtual machine window will open automatically following its creation:
Using Macrium viBoot with a Sysprepped Image
It is recommended that the reference computer be Sysprepped prior to the golden image being created. As a result, when the golden image is booted as a virtual machine, the operating system will enter the Out of Box Experience (OOBE), this is where the first-time configuration for a newly installed operating system is performed.
To make changes to the image, the computer should be put into Audit Mode when the OOBE starts, which will avoid the need to complete the OOBE. Audit Mode can be entered using the key combination of CTRL + SHIFT + F3, when the virtual machine reaches the OOBE:
If you are using viBoot on a laptop, the function key might also be required.
Once the computer has entered Audit Mode, you will be presented with the normal desktop experience. You can now make additional changes to the virtual machine.
Once the changes have been made to the virtual machine, in the 'System Preparation Tool' window, ensure that 'Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE)' is selected, that the 'Generalize' box has been checked, and that 'Shutdown Options' is set to 'Shutdown'.
This will ensure that the virtual machine is in a state where it is ready to be imaged.
To create the updated golden image, select the virtual machine, and then select 'Backup...'.
This "updated" golden image can now be deployed to the target endpoints.
Using viBoot with a non-Sysprepped Image
Macrium viBoot can also be used to boot a non-Sysprepped image as a virtual machine. Since Sysprep was not run prior to the image being created, the operating system in the virtual machine will not enter the OOBE on startup; as a result, the key combination above is not needed.
Once the virtual machine has booted, the necessary changes can be made to the virtual machine.
Once the changes have been made to the virtual machine, shut the virtual machine down, select the virtual machine, and then select 'Backup...'.
This "updated" golden image can now be deployed to the target endpoints.