Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit is a set of tools created by Microsoft to customize, assess, and deploy Windows operating systems to new computers.
The Windows® Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) is a collection of tools and documentation that you can use to customize, assess, and deploy Windows® operating systems to new computers.
The Windows ADK is new for Windows® 8. Tools that were previously available in the Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit and Windows Automated Installation Kit are now available in the Windows ADK.
It is basically composed by Windows Deployment Service and Windows Assessment Service:
Windows Deployment Overview
This scenario models the work of OEMs and IT professionals who customize and automate the large-scale installation of Windows, such as on a factory floor, or across an organization. The Windows ADK supports this work with the deployment tools that were previously released as part of the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) and the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK). The deployment tools in the Windows ADK help you to perform the following tasks:
Create a customized Windows PE environment that you can use to deploy Windows to computers.
Customize aspects of Windows and add your own branding, applications, and settings by using Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM).
Keep Windows up to date with the latest updates, language packs, and drivers by using Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management Tool (DISM).
Identify application compatibility issues by using the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT).
Migrate user data between Windows installations by using User State Migration Tool (USMT).
Manage volume activation of Windows by using Volume Activation Management Toolkit (VAMT).
Windows Assessment Overview
This scenario models the work of OEMs, IHVs, and IT professionals who measure the operational characteristics of a computer, including its performance, reliability, and functionality. Assessments help you make these measurements, diagnose problems, and determine how to make improvements. Assessments can help reduce costs by identifying potential issues as you create your hardware and software experiences. By using these tools, you can help ensure that the hardware and software that you develop are responsive and of high quality.
Assessments help you perform the following tasks:
Assess performance aspects of a single computer using the Windows® Assessment Console.
Assess performance aspects of multiple computers in a networked or lab environment using Windows® Assessment Services.
Windows ADK also contain the following tools:
- Application Compatibility Toolkit
- Deployment Tools
- Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE)
- User State Migration Tool (USMT)
- Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT)
- Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT)
- Windows Assessment Toolkit
- Windows Assessment Services
