WINNER (Windows Is Not Necessary for Everyone's RIS)

[natan770]

Hi;

I'm pleased to finally announce the release of a complete Howto explaining how everyone can install a full-working RIS architecture on a LAN, with no mandatory Windows server. And even, with no Windows XP source at all. And even, with no paying software at all.

Better that you look at it by yourselves.

http://winner.windowsdream.com

Regards,

Natan

http://winner.windowsdream.com -- Windows Is Not Necessary for Everyone's RIS

http://dvdgen.windowsdream.com -- Burn your own complete and unattended Windows installer on a DVD

http://updater.windowsdream.com -- Auto-update your PC with freeware/opensource

http://ping.windowsdream.com -- Partimage Is Not Ghost

http://www.windowsdream.com -- Corporate homepage.

[pirrup]

hehe looking nice

got one question tho , if i use this on a windows 2003 server that has dhcp enabled do i still need to config the dhcp in the tftpd ?

cheers

[natan770]

hehe looking nice

got one question tho , if i use this on a windows 2003 server that has dhcp enabled do i still need to config the dhcp in the tftpd ?

Hi Pirrup;

No; if you've got a Windows 2003 server with DHCP, then you don't need TFTPD32. You'd better enable RIS service on the server. There's probably many tutorials about the setting up of a RIS server on Win 2003 on MSFN. Here there's one too: http://www.adminprep.com/articles/default....ow&articleid=43

If you want to use TFTPD32 on the Win 2003 server, then disable the DHCP of Windows, because both may conflict.

Regards

Natan

[pirrup]

great tnx for the info

[Telenut]

Can I install this on my system in the network, when we already have a dhcp running on a windows server? (I don't want to help the whole network down )

[LaptoniC]

Although this app look promising it isnt for newbies like me.It asks so much questions I just want to start Windows installation from network.I have found some info at http://xpe.collewijn.info/page/tftpd_ris.php However it only talks about BartPE booting.How can I boot my current UACD from network? I mean what files should be copied to C:\output and what should be written in default file.Or this isnt possible?I will appreciate any tips.Thanks

[natan770]

Can I install this on my system in the network, when we already have a dhcp running on a windows server? (I don't want to help the whole network down )

Hi Telenut!

hehe... well, two DHCP on the same LAN are bounce to conflict. You've got 3 solutions, though:

• Add RIS to your Windows Server, so you can serve WINNER or PING from this server (and necessary files can be shared on any other box, only kernel / initrd.gz / pxelinux.0 / pxelinux.cfg\default need to be stored on the server).
  
• Modify the config of the DHCP of your Windows Server, so it assigns IPs to everyone, except some computers (MAC Address can be used for this purpose). And the same should be done on the second DHCP server. But the problem here is that, to my knowledge, TFTPD32's DHCP server is too light to support MAC Address filtering. So, you'd have to install a second Windows Server for your tests.
  
• Use a bootable DVD rather than RIS. The WINNER Howto tells about the burning of such a DVD.
  

Hope it helps...

Natan

[Telenut]

First option seems to be the best one.

Only problem: I have to explain what I want to do to the server manager, and he does not like new things... (believe me, all our servers are completely unpatched...)

Thx for the advice,

I keep you up to date :-)

[natan770]

Although this app look promising it isnt for newbies like me.It asks so much questions I just want to start Windows installation from network.I have found some info at http://xpe.collewijn.info/page/tftpd_ris.php However it only talks about BartPE booting.How can I boot my current UACD from network? I mean what files should be copied to C:\output and what should be written in default file.Or this isnt possible?I will appreciate any tips.Thanks

Hi LaptoniC;

there are two installations: the server part, I mean the setup of the RIS server itself, which cannot be much easier than the 3-step howto...

...and there's of course the installation of Windows itself, on the client side. Yes, there are questions -- maybe 7 or 8, depending you're booting an ISO or PXE. But the key point is: all questions are raised at the beginning of the install process, you can reply to all them in 5 miutes. And the rest of the install is unattended. Many of these questions are features, only permitted by the choice of a Linux Preinstall Environment. For instance, the user is asked for the name of the PC, which makes park management easier.

The interest of a Linux Preinstall Environment is detailed on the home page of the project => http://winner.windowsdream.com.

I believe that because the whole process makes use of the DVD Generator, admins implementing a WINNER architecture get the choice, either to keep to defaults (this, even a newbie can do, definitely), either to customize the master (no more newbie, then).

Have you tried to build this architecture ?

[LaptoniC]

@natan770

The page in my previous posts talks about booting bartpe from network just by suplying ISO name.Also in his example there is a entries for Ghost and Windows XP unattended.That is why I thought that maybe it is possible to boot anything with PXE.I guess I am wrong.

What I mean by asking so many questions is,I will use network boot for my current UACD on server.This CD already have Winnt.sif with serial,Guirunonce for installing my apps,my tweaks etc.So no need to ask for them.And no need to download SysAngel DVD Generator.I have the files of CD and ISO of it.I know it is very customizable and you thought every possibility.However I think there should be some configuration so that I wont enter same thing over and over again.ie

unattended=1

Mode=graphic

IP=auto

autoinst=no

release=smb

;why it asks again for IP dont we have it ?

directory=output

.etc...

Thanks again for such good product and answering my newbie questions

[natan770]

LOL, what kind of a newbie are you ?

You are right to suggest a .ini would pre-reply questions related to network and repository location. This improvement will be done very soon.

Natan

[LaptoniC]

Could you also tell us how to customize initrd.gz file.I googled little bit and it is image of ramdisk I guess.I dont have linux but I have Knoppix and I really want to customize it if you allow and tell me how.