deploying an image over a network

[deploy_issues]

Hi, I'm in an area now that I'm not very experienced in, and I think I just need some clarification to get me on my way. Sorry if some of my terminology is incorrect; I haven't dealt with this material much yet.

I'll start off with my question, and then give some details. I'm wondering if you can deploy a sysprep'd image over a network, as in have the target computers boot off the network, grab the image, have them go through the installation unattended with a sysprep.inf file, and boot into the operating system. From what I've read, it looks like RIS is the only deployment method that has that capability.

What I've done so far:

I have been looking at various methods for deploying images of an operating system to target computers. Fairly quickly I found out about unattend, sysprep, and RIS.

I am running WindowsXP Professional, and I would like to deploy this operating system as well. I have started with sysprep, made an image on a DVD, and am about to test it on a test computer. I have worked through the sysprep.inf stuff, and know how to get the installation to proceed without user interaction.

I am not working with a Windows server machine right now, but I could probably obtain that OS if it is required. It looks like a Windows server OS is the only one with RIS functionality (is this true?). I started with sysprep because it looked simple to start with, and if I can keep it that way, wouldn't that be wonderful...

Thank you in advance.

[jaclaz]

I am not working with a Windows server machine right now, but I could probably obtain that OS if it is required. It looks like a Windows server OS is the only one with RIS functionality (is this true?).

NO.

Looky here:

http://winner.windowsdream.com/

jaclaz

[IcemanND]

The Ghost solution Suite using ghost console can remotely image machines. You have to set up the machine with the console first as I recall though in order to do a push. You can also multicast the image in a pull implementation.

[Mordac85]

I use a WinPE boot image for the PXE boot in my test lab. From there I run Ghost to drop the image on the client. But I only do this in my lab b/c of the time to copy the image off the network.

Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) is the M$ solution, replacing RIS for the most part. It seems more complicated to setup but looks like a good tool once it's up and running.

[bj-kaiser]

For all I can say I'm quite happy with WinPE 2.1.

Microsoft made it possible to boot it from any TFTP/DHCP combination, you dont need Windows server for it. All you need to PXE/net-boot is a DHCP-, TFTP- and SMB-Server and you got your basics. The OS for the server services is practically unimportant, as long as you get the services you need on that platform.

I'm currently working on something similar like what you are about to.

With the help of Sysprep, WinPE and AutoIt (I don't like VB sorry) I'm building my version of a universal xp. The license of the WAIK (from which you get the WinPE) is quite nice in the aspect, that it specifies "you are allowed to install and use this software only for the purpose of installing Windows operating system software".

Anyone see whats the nice point there?

It doesn't mention a specific version of Windows.

Right now I'm putting the parts together, Sysprep to prepare for the hdd imaging, Imagex.exe for the imaging, peimg.exe to inject hdc drivers into the deployed image before the first boot on a new machine (thanks to 911cd.net/forum for that one). There are some other features I'll throw in, a driver directory scanner, so you dont have to add drivers to the image beforehand, as well as a (not MS supported) HAL-swap, that lets you switch your Windows XP image to the correct HAL which is detected by WinPE (I think this also came from 911cd).

(I found that the sysprep.inf options for HAL switching dont seem to cover everything, especially when it comes to machines with and without APIC you'd have to have at least 2 different images, but that may be a fault in my experiments)

(going totally OT: I may start a project on Google Code, but as of now I'm unsure about the license to choose.)