MDT Multicast without PXE

[HPWN]

Hi all

 

I was wondering if there is a way to multicast MDT images via WDS or anything else that doesn't need PXE setup.

Our Network Ops don't allow PXE, therefore we have to avoid it.

I'm also aware of setting up a temporary mini network completely isolated and work off that with the right Server roles turned on, but we would like to avoid that..

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks!

HP

[wmmayms]

Boot from USB or CD instead of PXE?

[HPWN]

But is multicast supported that way?

As we (atm) have 50 computers to do deploy.

[wmmayms]

Hm i think it will work. Allthough i think you will need wds installed and multicast needs to be supported in your network infrastructure.

Have a look at this doc:Using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.zip

[HPWN]

There seems to be no way to do it without a WDS server, which inturn requires PXE boot to push out boot images....

What we plan to accomplish is to USB/CD boot multiple clients and let them connect to the multicast transmission from the server, or anything along those lines (similar methods were possible through symantec ghost).

[WinOutreach4]

It does require WDS to use multicast, but PXE booting is not required. There is a conversation here that discusses this, and the user in this case was told to add a boot image (in WDS) browse to the deployment share and select the image you are going to deploy. Use this newly created boot image on your USB key or CD to boot the machines that you are going to image. This boot image will make the request to the WDS server and get added to the stream.

 

The requirement for WDS is in the document that wmmayms linked on page 445.

 

Hope this helps,

David

Windows Outreach Team - IT Pro

www.microsoft.com/springboard