Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)

MDT is a unified collection of tools, processes, and guidance for automating desktop and server deployment. You can use it to create reference images or as a complete deployment solution. See this guide for the differences between MDT and WDS?

Types of WDS Deployment

The main difference between Lite-Touch and Zero-Touch Deployment is that Lite-Touch Deployment requires some user interaction. While Zero Touch Deployment does not require any user interaction.

Please refer to the following guides on how to deploy a VM via PXE boot. How to set up a VM via PXE boot on a Generation 1 VM, and how to set up a VM via PXE boot on a Generation 2 VM – Hyper-V.

Lite Touch Installation (LTI)

LTI is a high-volume deployment strategy for small to midsized organizations that combine the use of MDT with WDS. This allows Administrators to deploy PC via network-based installation. Lite Touch Deployment requires some user interaction. It can be installed from a network share or media using an optical disc or USB flash drive etc. MDT is required for this deployment.

Zero Touch Installation (ZTI)

ZTD is a fully automated deployment. Therefore, in this installation, no user interaction is required.

However, it requires a continuous network connection to the distribution point. Microsoft Endpoint Manager Configuration Manager, previously called SCCM is required for this deployment.

Here is a detailed article on the unified collection of tools that are applied”ADK, MDT, and WDS: How to deploy Windows using MDT, and WDS“.

I hope you found this blog post helpful on “What are the differences between Lite-Touch and Zero-Touch installation”? If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment session.