Deploy XP Images in the Computer Lab with Windows Deployment Services on Server 2003
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Windows Deployment Services will allow you to image XP machines across the network. Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is included in the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) and in Windows Server 2003 SP2. This is an imaging / cloning method that allows you to clone lab and campus computers without using any floppy drives, CD drives or boot disks. Instead, you set the client computer's BIOS to start the boot from the network card. The network card then gets an IP address from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, then it locates the WDS server that will send a boot image file to boot the client machine. Once the machine is booted you will be presented with a menu to select an image file located on the WDS server to clone your client machine.
This tutorial covers 4 main steps to successfully deploying XP images with Windows Deployment Services (WDS).
- Configure WDS server to capture and deploy images.
- Configure client to boot from network card and sysprepping XP for automatic installation.
- Capturing sysprepped XP image from client to WDS server.
- Deploying sysprepped XP image from WDs server to client.
To do this, you will need:
- The WDS server must be a member of an Active Directory domain or a domain controller for an Active Directory domain.
- Windows Server 2003 with WDS installed.
- A DHCP server for the clients to automatically obtain IP addresses.
- A DNS server.
- An NTFS partition on the WDS server to store images.
- 2 files: F1_WINPE.WIM and F3_WINPE.WIM from the Windows AIK. These files are required to capture images from clients.
- 1 file: boot.WIM from a Windows Vista DVD. This file is required to install images on clients.
- Client computers configured in the BIOS to boot from the network card. (PXE booting)
- A client machine with XP configured to your specs, and sysprepped for imaging.