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Windows Deployment Services (WDS)

Question

What is WDS ?

 

Windows Deployment Services (Windows DS or WDS) is the updated/redesigned version of RIS (Remote Installation Services).

 

It replaces Remote Installation Services (RIS) and is available as an add-on for Windows 2003 SP1 through the WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit).

 

How can I install it in Server 2003 SP1 ?

 

If you want to install it in Windows Server 2003 Sp1 then use the included EXE file on the WAIK DVD (or mount the ISO) The WDS installation file (for Windows Server 2003 SP1) is available in two versions

 

windows-deployment-services-update-x86.exe

 

and

 

windows-deployment-services-update-amd64.exe

 

choose whichever version is appropriate to your release.

 

How can I install it in Server 2003 SP2 ?

 

Windows Deployment Services is included in Windows Server 2003 SP2. To install WDS in Server 2003 SP2, go into control panel, add remove programs and click on Add Remove Windows Components

 

arcomponents.JPG

 

Scroll down to the bottom, select Windows Deployment Services by placing a checkmark and click Next.

 

select wds.JPG

 

 

If it prompts for the CD enter it and click next, click Finish when done.

 

finsih when done.JPG

 

You will be prompted to restart the server, so click on Yes to reboot.

 

restart.JPG

 

How can I install it in Server 2008 ?

 

WDS is a role in Windows Server 2008, you just have to add it and configure it.

 

 

 

What can I do with WDS ?

 

With WDS, you can install Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows 2000 images. In addition, the WIM images are sysprepped. Windows Deployment

Services uses WinPE as the boot environment on the target PC, WinPE can be customised and WinPE is deployed as a compressed WIM image with RAMDISK boot support.

 

WDS provides a new set of management tools for common server tasks, for example there is the UI tool itself which is a MMC console application, and there is a command line tool which is scriptable (wdsutil), both of these tools use the MGMT API layer. WDS can be remotely administered and the management console can handle multiple WDS servers.

 

WDS offers a capture utility, a GUI utility to capture images into WIM format, this is a light version of imageX/capture functionality plus a UI. WDS features an Active Directory users and computers extension and an updated version of RISETUP (Windows Server 2003 only). Windows Server 2008 will offer multicast capabilites with WDS.

 

How does WDS work ?

 

There are three modes of operation for WDS.

 

Legacy

 

In Legacy mode (Windows Server 2003), the WDS server uses WDS binaries but gives RIS functionality, it still uses the 'dos' based oschooser and RISetup and RIPrep funtionality. Management is via RIS utilities.

 

Mixed

 

In mixed mode (Windows Server 2003), WDS offers both OSChooser and WinPE booting, plus RISetup, RIPrep and WIM functionality. Management of RIS is via the RIS utilities, and management of WDS via the WDS mmc console or command line utility (wdsutil). The mode requires that RIS has been pre-configured on the Windows 2003 server.

 

Native

 

In native mode (both Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008), there is NO RIS functionality, you will only have access to WinPE or WIM images. Management of WDS is via the WDS mmc console or via command line, and Native mode is the only option in Windows Server 2008.

 

 

If you would like to configure WDS via the MMC gui then please read this post.

 

Troubleshooting WDS

 

IF you get access denied errors when configuring WDS via the command prompt:-

 

see below

 

D:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>wdsutil /verbose /progress /initial

ize-server /reminst:"e:\RemoteInstall"

 

Windows Deployment Services Management Utility [Version 6.0.6000.16386]

Copyright © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

Setting up server...

 

-> Creating Windows Deployment Services installation tree

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services installation root at \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr

.ris.local\e$\RemoteInstall

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services share at \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\R

EMINST

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Images

 

 

An error occurred while trying to execute the command.

Error Code: 0x5

Error Description: Access is denied.

 

the access denied error above occurred immediatly after trying to create a folder called images on the WDS SHARE (REMINST). So I checked the properties of the share and gave EVERYONE full acess. Now when I tried wdsutil it worked, see below.

 

D:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>wdsutil /verbose /progress /initial

ize-server /reminst:"e:\RemoteInstall"

 

Windows Deployment Services Management Utility [Version 6.0.6000.16386]

Copyright © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

Setting up server...

 

-> Creating Windows Deployment Services installation tree

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services installation root at \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr

.ris.local\e$\RemoteInstall

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services share at \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\R

EMINST

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Images

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Boot

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Boot\x86\Images

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Boot\ia64\Images

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Boot\x64\Images

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Boot\Fonts

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Mgmt

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\WdsClientUnattend

 

---> Creating Windows Deployment Services folder \\xavhk8rtapbn5jr.ris.local\REM

INST\Templates

 

-> Installing Windows Deployment Services files

 

---> Installing system files

.

 

---> Installing boot files for x86

....

 

---> Installing boot files for ia64

..

 

---> Installing boot files for x64

..

 

-> Updating registry

 

-> Configuring the TFTPD service

 

-> Configuring BINL SCP

 

Enabling Windows Deployment Services services...

 

Restarting active Windows Deployment Services services...

 

The command completed successfully.

 

 

 

So to recap:- to initialize your WDS server you could do it via the gui wizard

 

wds_not_configured_yet.JPG

 

or via command line by issuing

 

wdsutil /verbose /progress /initialize-server /reminst:"e:\RemoteInstall"

 

the e:\Remoteinstall path should be changed to the path of your RemoteInstall folder. In addition once done make sure to open up the WDS MMC gui at least once.

 

 

 

You can use WDS to capture 4 types of images

 

* boot

* capture

* install

* discover

 

A discover image is used when you do not have access to a PXE server.

 

 

how can I CAPTURE an Image using WDS ?

 

To capture an image using WDS do as follows

 

how can I DEPLOY an Image using WDS ?

 

To deploy an image using WDS do as follows:

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Hi,




Kindly help me on this issue. Am struggling for a week to create a answer file for the below criteria:-



I want the an answer file to prompt for the Credentials to join the domain and computer name should be taken automatically from the guid.



Kindly help me ...

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