By Patrick Nelson
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is a Windows 7deployment tool for deploying over networks.
It’s an updated version of Remote Installation Services (RIS.) and replaced RIS in Windows Server 2008.
It was updated for Windows Server 2008 R2.
The advantage of using WDS is that you don’t have to install each operating system from disk.
WDS is capable of some advanced tasks like performing multicast deployments; managing and deploying driver packages; creating custom install images; unattended installations and also creating discover images.
Multicast includes Multiple Stream Transfer and lets you set performance thresholds on multicast clients, effectively letting slower clients to move to slower streams, so that they don’t slow down fast machines.
This was a problem in the original multicast but drivers stored on the WDS server are dynamically provisioned now. Updating new drivers becomes a bit simpler.
You just add them to the store. They can also be placed in the boot images straight from the WDS driver store.
WDS now allows you to deploy a Windows 7-based virtual hard disk (VHD) file to a machine and boot from it. It’s only supported in the command line though.
WDS can be installed using the Initial Configuration Wizard, Server Manager, or the command line. Once you’ve installed the server role, you will need to configure the server.
Then simply add a boot image and an install image and WDS is ready to deployWindows 7.
Upgrading from RIS involves a clean installation if possible–plus Microsoft suggests you don’t mix WDS and RIS due to possible unpredictable results.
Extensibility is new for WDS.
Data and images can be transmitted by using multicasting on a stand-alone server a Transport Server.
Transport Servers are stand-alone servers that do not require Active DirectoryDomain Services, DHCP, or DNS.
IPv6 support is added for multicasting, although only in Windows Server 2008 R2, not Windows Server 2008. Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) support is also added for network booting of x64-based computers with EFI.
Issues with WDS primarily relate to DHCP. If DHCP is on a server in a different subnet, the router will need to be configured to broadcast packets. If WDS and DHCP are on the same computer you may need to disable some DHCP options.
Microsoft has a library section on TechNet specifically relating to WDS.
It includes a Getting Started guide and tips on how to install and configure WDS. Install an install image, perform unattended installs, create discover images and also troubleshooting amongst other things. You can explore it in depth here.
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