Offline and Hybrid Mode

EASYDEPLOY supports offline operation in two areas: License Verification and OS Installation Source. Designed for isolated or internet-restricted network environments.

Note

Look up .esd download links at the ESD Catalog (https://esd.coresystem.vn) — a catalog of download links from Microsoft’s official distribution channel, complete with SHA-256 for verification. Files matching the Catalog — simply copy to the USB and use.

Note

The embedded catalog in EasyDeploy lists build 26200.8873 for 25H2. For 100% offline scenarios, download the exact ESD version to ensure deployment proceeds as planned.

1. Offline License Verification

Place the .lic file received from CoreSystem into EASYDEPLOY\ on the USB:

[USB]:\EASYDEPLOY\<file_name>.lic

• Contents of *.lic: Issued by CoreSystem, digitally signed (cannot be created or modified manually). Contains the enterprise name, expiry date, permitted USB-SN list, and service tier.
• USB Binding: The license is bound to ≥1 USB-SN. If the USB is not on the list, the system reports “License is bound to a different USB drive.” — preventing license copying. See Note on USB-SN for details.
• License Tier: The service tier (free/advanced) is recorded in the license (only Advanced has a *.lic; Free requires none). See License Tiers.
• Activation: No additional configuration is required. Place the .lic on the USB — the system authenticates automatically without requiring a network connection.

Caution

Licenses are centrally issued and signed by CoreSystem — you cannot create them yourself. Contact CoreSystem for renewal or USB replacement.

1.1. Common License Error Messages

Error Message	Meaning
License is not valid.	Invalid license — missing characters or incorrect digital signature.
License is bound to a different USB drive.	The USB is not in the bound Usb list.
Please check your BIOS time settings.	The RTC clock in BIOS is too far behind the validity period.
Please contact CoreSystem to renew your license.	The license has expired and exceeded the grace period.
NearExpiry warning	License expiring soon (less than 14 days remaining) — warning before installation.

2. Offline OS Source Management

EASYDEPLOY follows an Offline-first principle — it prioritizes local sources when scanning for the Windows image. This applies to both online and offline versions. The .esd file is placed in EASYDEPLOY\ on the USB and supports two structures:

[drive_letter]:\EASYDEPLOY\OS\<file_name>.esd               → Single file
[drive_letter]:\EASYDEPLOY\OS\<folder_name>\<file_name>.esd   → Categorized in subfolders

• Identification: The .esd name must exactly match fileName in the Catalog, with SHA-256 hash verification.
• Success: Valid local file → fully offline installation, no network required.
• Fallback: File not found or SHA-256 mismatch → engine falls back to the Cloud CDN. If both fail → the system stops and reports an error.
• Hybrid Mode: An empty OS folder is still valid — EASYDEPLOY will download the file over the internet automatically.

Tip

Visit https://esd.coresystem.vn to look up the download link for the installation file — select the appropriate Build, Edition, and Language. Place it in EASYDEPLOY\OS\ on the USB.

Danger

Do not store EASYDEPLOY\OS\ on DVD or ISO. The Joliet format truncates file names exceeding 64 characters when mounted in WinPE. The file name will not match fileName in the Catalog — the engine will skip the local file and attempt a network connection.

3. Summary of Fully Offline Operation (Offline Mode)

Configuration File	Setting
system-config.json	No authentication setup required. catalog.cloudCatalog:false → embedded catalog (100% offline, all tiers); a self-hosted url is BYOC (Advanced).
USB EASYDEPLOY\	Place the *.lic file issued by CoreSystem (no JSON flag required).
USB EASYDEPLOY\OS\	Copy a valid .esd file (downloaded from esd.coresystem.vn, matching fileName in the Catalog).

Tip

OS installation does not require a network. post-setup.ps1 will still run normally if the workstation requires internet. Automatic resource download steps are skipped when $HasInternet = $false.