PDQ Auto Deploy

PDQ Auto Deploy

by | Sep 9, 2020 | Deployments, Information Technology

We use PDQ where I work, and I am lazy. So, I have made a way to set up devices into Different OUs. This way when I am gone, it’s as easy as putting a computer into an OU and walks away. When I image, The image will load the OS and put the computer into the OU for me, which makes it even sweeter. Then PDQ will hit that OU, check the file, and bam, off to the races with the most up to date software. Makes a great hybrid solution.

Here are a few things you will need before we get started.

  • A Licensed version of PDQ.
  • A laptop Deployment Package
  • A general knowledge of how the conditions work in package deployments.

We first make a new package deployment. This package deployment will have the Laptop package deployment nested inside of it. We will place a special condition on this deployment package. On your new package deployment, select properties and then conditions. Under File we will select “Does Not Exist” and put a directory of your choice and a filename of your choice.

Initial Install – Laptop Base

Your first step is the laptop base install. I name my deployments with a CTP if it is complete. The second step is the “Done” step which creates the condition file. This way it will not redeploy, but you can force it by deleting the file.

Now you have the initial install package built, it’s time to build the scheduling.

  • Right click on the deployment package
  • Select New Schedule
  • Under Targets tab, click choose targets
  • Select Active Directory
  • Select Containers
  • Select the OU you want.
  • Under Triggers select the Interval button
    • Here you change the Time ranges. we do an hour as it takes 30 minutes for the laptop deployment to go through.
  • Select the Package tab
  • Confirm your package is located there.
  • Under Options
    • Here you can tell it to stop redeploying if the deployment was successful. We don’t want to do that because we have a condition and we don’t want it to stay in that OU. This is a good way to create a reminder for yourself by having the Notification send you emails.
  • You’re done.

A quick way to add a computer to the OU while setting it up is the Add-Computer Command.

Add-Computer -DomainName <Your Domain> -OUPath <OU Path for the Initial Install> -NewName <New Computer Name> -Credential (Get-Credential) -restart

This command will add the computer to the OU that you want and restart it. Make sure you have a group policy set to the OU to turn off or Open the ports on the firewall.

Thank you for reading.