Upgrading MDT on Server Core

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So, in my previous blog on PS without BS: Building MDT and WSUS on Server Core, I outlined how to install MDT on Server Core, along with some other components.

So, it's upgrade time, and 8443 has turned into 8450. Now how do we update?

We do this on both the server itself, and also on the tools box that you use to connect to MDT.

Step 1: The server
Hopefully you are running this install virtually and you can simply roll back on error, so please create your snapshot now.

To update the server, simply download and copy the file to the server. From the command line, run this command:

msiexec.exe /i MicrosoftDeploymentToolkit_x64.msi /q

...of course as is standard with MSI, you can add /l for logging and all that if you desire.

Now, time to move to the tools box.

Step 2: The tools box
So, here, you'll need to install the same MicrosoftDeploymentToolkit_x64.msi from before. You can do this via command line or from Windows Explorer.

Now, once you open up Deployment Workbench, you will see text similar to the following:
Unable to reopen the deployment share at \\server\sharename.
The deployment share at \\server\sharename cannot be opened because it needs to be upgraded. The version of the deployment share is 6.3.8443.1000 while the required version is 6.3.8450.1000.

Of course, as versions of MDT change, subsititute versions accordingly. I don't expect this message to ever change in the future.

Step 3: Upgrade the deployment share
To upgrade the deployment share, follow these steps:

  • Open Deployment Workbench
  • Right click the deployment share
  • Click Upgrade Deployment Share
  • Click Next once you have read through the details
  • MDT will then do its business of upgrading the share, let it finish
  • Once completed, click Finish

You should now be able to open up the deployment share and be back to business as usual with a new version of MDT.