Windows Deployment Services and deploying images

[jfulford]

Hello.

I've got Windows 2008 server running with Windows Deployment Services. I've managed to install a couple of images in WDS AND get a workstation on the same network to PXE boot to it, starting the installation process for Vista(in this case). What I'm trying to do is:

1) Create a base image--XP/Vista/2003/etc--on a workstation/server.

2) Then "capture" this image to my WDS server.

3) Deploy said image to assorted workstations/servers.

--ALL using PXE boot from the workstations to the WDS server.

Is this possible with Windows Deployment Services on 2008? We've used GHOST in the past with Dos boot disks, but we are trying to establish a new system without using GHOST.

MY hardware: Dell SC1425, 160 gig Satas, NO raid, 4 gig ram, with 2008 x86 Standard SP1. Fresh load, no updates, isolated network.

Thanks

jeff

jfulford1@earthlink.net

[cluberti]

If you've already got 2008 and WDS, look into creating a "capture image" from your boot image. It'll create an image you can put back into WDS as a boot image that will boot up and capture (and upload to WDS, optionally) a machine volume that has been sysprep'ed, including XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Win7, etc. No need for Ghost if you're using WDS.