WDS Deploying Windows Part 1: Install and Configure WDS

KB ID 0000735 

Problem

You want to deploy the Windows 8 Client Operating System, to a number of clients using WDS. In this part we will configure the WDS Server, then we will move onto taking an image of your reference Windows 8 machine. Finally we will cover taking that image, and deploying it out to many target systems.

Solution

Add the WDS Role

1. From Server Manager (ServerManager.exe) > Local Server.

ServerManager - Local Server

2. Manage > Add Roles and Features.

2012 Add Role

3. Next.

Add Roles to Server 2012

4. Next.

Add Roles and Features 2012

5. Next.

Local Role Windows Server 2012

6. Select ‘Windows Deployment services’ > Next > It will ask to install some other features let it do so.

Add Windows Deployment Services

7. Next.

WDS Feaures

8. Next.

Add Role Wizard

9. Accept the default (both roles) > Next.

WDS Deployment and Transport Roles

10. Install.

Confirm Installation

Configure the WDS Server

11. From the Start menu > Launch the Windows Deployment Services management console.

WDS Manager

12. Expand servers > Right click the server name > Configure Server.

Configure WDS 2012

13. Read the prerequisites > Next.

WDS Prerequistes

14. Next.

AD inegrated WDS

15. Select the location where you want to store your images and keep the WDS files.

WDS Image Location

16. Note: In this case it’s warning me NOT to use the C: drive, as this is just a test server I will accept the warning and leave it as it is. In production environments make sure you are using a different drive/volume.

WDS Warning

17. This particular server IS a DHCP server, but we will address the DHCP requirements when we are finished > Next.

WDS DHCP Options

18. I’m going to choose ‘Respond to all (known and unknown)’ > Next.

WDS Respond to all

19. WDS should configure and the service SHOULD start.

WDS Install

20. Here we can see the service has not started (the server will have a small stop symbol on it).

WDS Services not started

21. So I need to manually start the service.

Start WDS Services

Adding Image Groups and Images

22. Firstly I’m going to create an group that will hold all my Windows 8 Client machine images. Right click Install Images > Add Image Group.

WDS Image Group

23. Give it a name > OK.

2012 Image Group Name

Adding a boot image (To send an image to a remote machine)

24. Now I need to add a boot image, so I can boot my remote clients from the WDS server and use this image to load WindowsPE on them, so they can be imaged. Right click Boot Images > Add Boot Image.

WDS Boot Image - Install Image

25. You can use either a Windows 8 DVD or a Windows Server 2012 DVD, you will need to navigate to the sources directory, and locate Boot.wim > Open.

2012 boot.wim

26. Next.

import image WDS

27. Rename the image ‘Install an Image’ > Enter a description > Next.

Install an Image WDS

28. Next.

Boot Image

29. The Image will be imported.

Import Boot Image

30. Finish.

Imported Windows Deployment Services Windows 8

Adding a Capture Image (To take an image from a remote machine)

31. Right click the image we have just added > Create Capture Image.

Create Capture Image

32. Call this one ‘Capture an Image’ > Give it a description > Save the image (with a .wim extension). Note: It does not matter where you save the image, but I would suggest somewhere in the ‘Remote Install’ folder > Next.

WDS Capture Image Location

33. The image will be created.

Create Capture WDS

34. Finish

WDS Windows 8

35. Now even through we have created the capture image, we still need to import it. Right click > Add Boot Image.

Boot Images Import

36. Select the capture image you created earlier > Next.

Import Capture

37. Make sure it’s called ‘Capture and Image’ > Next.

Image Capture Image

38. Next.

image add to wds

39. Now the capture image will be imported into WDS.

WDS Capture an Image

40. Finish.

Capture imported 2012

Configure DHCP with WDS Options

41. Launch the DHCP management console.

DHCP Manager WDS

42. Open the active scope > IPv4 > Server Options > Configure Options.

Configure DHCP for WDS

43. Tick Option 66 > Set its value to the IP address of the WDS server > Apply > OK.

DHCP Option 66

44. Tick Option 67 > Set its value to;

bootx64wdsnbp.com

Apply OK

DHCP Option 67

45. Now you are ready to capture an image of your reference Windows 8 machine.

 

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

2012 – WDS Deploying Windows 8 Part 2: Prepare Windows 8, and Capture to WDS

WDS 2003 Deploying Windows XP

WDS 2008 R2 Deploying Windows 7

Using Windows Deployment Services with Symantec Ghost

 

Author: Migrated

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