Glazier is an automation framework developed by Google for deploying and managing Windows operating systems at scale. It streamlines the entire Windows imaging process by booting systems into the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE), retrieving installation instructions from a web server, and automatically applying operating systems, software, and configurations. The tool is fully text-based and code-driven, with configurations written in YAML, allowing teams to leverage source control for versioning, collaboration, and quality assurance. By distributing installation data via HTTPS, Glazier ensures scalability and flexibility, supporting both simple local servers and large-scale cloud-based deployments. Its extensibility makes it easy for administrators to create custom actions using Python or PowerShell, enabling tailored automation for diverse enterprise environments. Designed for engineers, Glazier emphasizes repeatability, maintainability, and transparency in Windows.
Features
- Automates Windows OS deployment using WinPE and HTTPS-based configuration retrieval
- Uses YAML text-based configurations for version control and peer review
- Supports scalable distribution through web servers or CDNs via HTTPS
- Enables customization with Python or PowerShell extension modules
- Provides templating and reuse capabilities across different system images
- Facilitates automated testing and validation through integration with CI pipelines