Chapter 8. Windows Deployment Services
Microsoft Windows Deployment Services (WDS) provides a network-based installation of Windows Operating systems to reduce the complexity and potential differences in installation choices that may be encountered as compared to manual installations. Thanks to PXE and environments such as Windows PE, it is capable of deploying images to computers that have no operating system. Replacing the previous Remote Installation Services (RIS) feature of Windows Server 2003, this latest incarnation provides several features that take advantage of the new file-based imaging capabilities of Windows Vista while also adding more robust features, such as multicast and improved transfer speeds. This chapter discusses WDS, how you can go about replacing a current RIS implementation, installation, and configuration steps and basic operation in real-world, step-by-step guides to help you get the most out of WDS.
Introducing Windows Deployment Services
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) replaces the previously named Remote Installation Services (RIS). It is included by default in the upcoming Windows Server 2008, and the functionality can be added to Windows Server 2003 with the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).
Not just for Windows Vista deployment, WDS supports deployment of the following operating systems:
Windows Vista
Windows Server 2008
Windows XP
Windows Server 2003
Many administrators that have leveraged Microsoft's Operating System deployment features in ...
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