Windows Deployment Services Windows Server 2008 Installation & Configuration

What is Windows Deployment Services?

The Windows Deployment Services role in Windows Server 2008 is the updated and redesigned version of Remote Installation Services (RIS). Windows Deployment Services enables you to deploy Windows operating systems, particularly Windows Seven and Windows Server 2008. You can use it to set up new computers by using a network-based installation. This means that you do not have to be physically present at each computer and you do not have to install each operating system directly from a CD or DVD.

Benefits of Windows Deployment Services

Windows Deployment Services provides the following installation and deployment benefits:

• Reduces the complexity of deployments and the costs associated with inefficient manual installation processes.
• Allows network-based installation of Windows operating systems, including Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
• Deploys Windows images to computers without operating systems.
• Supports mixed environments that include Windows Seven, Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows XP, and Microsoft Windows Server 2003.
• Provides an end-to-end solution for the deployment of Windows operating systems to client computers and servers.
• Uses standard Windows Server 2008 setup technologies, including Windows PE, .wim files, and image-based setup.

Prerequisites for installing Windows Deployment Services

• AD DS A Windows Deployment Services server must be either a member of an AD DS domain or a domain controller for an AD DS domain.
• DHCP You must have a working DHCP server with an active scope on the network because Windows Deployment Services uses PXE, which relies on DHCP for IP addressing.
• DNS You must have a working DNS server on the network before you can run Windows Deployment Services.
• NTFS volume The server running Windows Deployment Services requires an NTFS file system volume for the image store.
• Credentials To install the role, you must be a member of the Local Administrators group on the server. To initialize the server, you must be a member of the Domain Users group.

 Installing Windows Deployment Services

You can install Windows Deployment Services by using the Initial Configuration Wizard or from Server Manager.

• To install the role by using the Initial Configuration Wizard, click Add roles on the Initial Configuration Tasks startup screen. Click Next and then select Windows Deployment Services.

• To install the role by using Server Manager, click Add roles, which is located in the Roles Summary pane. Click Next and then select Windows Deployment Services.

 Note

During the installation, you have the following two role services to choose from.

• Transport Server. You can use Transport Server to create multicast namespaces that transmit data (including operating system images) from a standalone server. You should use this option if you want to transmit data by using multicasting, but you do not want to incorporate all of Windows Deployment Services.
• Deployment Server. To install this option, ensure that both Deployment Server and Transport Server are selected on the second installation wizard screen. This option provides the full functionality of Windows Deployment Services, which you can use to configure and remotely install Windows operating systems. With Windows Deployment Services, you can create and customize images and then use them to reimage computers. Note that Deployment Server is dependent on the core parts of Transport Server.

 Here I am installing DHCP Role along with Deployment Server Role, so I have more wizard options with respect to configure DHCP Server, If you are running out your DHCP Server on another box then follow instructions below and skip my DHCP configurations.  Simply install your WDS Role only.

• If you are running Windows Deployment Services and a non-Microsoft DHCP server on the same computer, in addition to configuring the server to not listen on port 67, you will need to use your DHCP tools to add Option 60 to your DHCP scopes.
• If DHCP is installed on a server that is located in a different subnet, you will need to do one of the following:
• (Recommended) Configure your IP Helper tables. All DHCP broadcasts by client computers on UDP port 67 should be forwarded directly to both the DHCP server and the Windows Deployment Services PXE server. Also, all traffic on UDP port 4011 from the client computers to the Windows Deployment Services PXE server should be routed appropriately (these requests direct traffic, not broadcasts, to the server).
• Add DHCP options 66 and 67.

 

 Configuring WDS

Expand WDS Role>>>Select Your Server>>>Right Click>>>Select Configure Server

Select the partition for your images.  It is recommended that select the hard drive/partition other than boot partition/hard disk for you images.  I am selecting the C:\ for demo purpose.

I have checked out both options as the DHCP and WDS is on the same server.

It is the response options for client computers, select according to your requirement.

When the configuration is completed clear the Add images to Windows Deployment Services now check box and then click Finish.

Adding Images

After you configure Windows Deployment Services, you must add at least one boot image and one install image before you will be able to boot to the Windows Deployment Services server and install an image.

• Boot images. Boot images are images that you boot a client computer into to perform an operating system installation. In most scenarios, you can use the Boot.wim file from the Windows Server 2008 installation DVD.
• Install images. Install images are the operating system images that you deploy to the client computer. You can also use the Install.wim file from the installation DVD, or you can create your own install image.

  Boot Image

In the left pane of the Windows Deployment Services MMC snap-in, right-click the Boot Images node, and then click Add Boot Image then Next.

Browse to choose the default boot image (Boot.wim) from the Windows 7 DVD, located in the \Sources folder.

Click Open and then click Next.

Follow the instructions in the wizard to add the image till you find wizard completion.

Install Image

In the Windows Deployment Services MMC snap-in, right-click the Install Images node, and then click Add Install Image.

Specify a name for the image group, and then click Next.

Browse to select the default install image (Install.wim) on the Windows 7 DVD, located in the \Sources folder, and then click Open.

To add a subset of the images included in the Install.wim file, clear the check boxes for the images that you do not want to add to the server. You should add only the images for which you have licenses.

Follow the instructions in the wizard to add the images till completion of the wizard.

Now that you have a boot image and an install image on the server, you can perform a PXE boot on a client computer to install an operating system.   But before proceeding to the client machine, we have to set the multicast transmission for our image.  Yup! I know you have question,  What is Multicast Transmission?

Multicast

Multicast transmissions enable you to deploy an image to a large number of client computers without overburdening the network. When you create a multicast transmission, the image is sent over the network only once, which can drastically reduce the amount of network bandwidth that is used.

 Right-click the Multicast Transmission node, and then click Create Multicast Transmission.

Name it and click on Next.

Selecting multicast type

There are two types of multicast transmissions:

• Auto-Cast. This option indicates that as soon as an applicable client requests an install image, a multicast transmission of the selected image begins. Then, as other clients request the same image, they too are joined to the transmission that is already started.
• Scheduled-Cast. This option sets the start criteria for the transmission based on the number of clients that are requesting an image and/or a specific day and time. If you do not select either of these check boxes, the transmission will not start until you manually start it. Note that in addition to these criteria, you can start a transmission manually at any time by right-clicking it and then clicking Start.

Note

Content is transferred over the network only if clients request data. If no clients are connected (that is, the transmission is idle), data will not be sent over the network.

Follow the instructions till completion of the wizard.

Now we have completed our very simple and transparent deployment server using Windows 2008 Server Environment.  Now Your PXE enabled client computers can install OS through network. Following are some snap shots for demonstration.   I am waiting for your replies and hopeful that it would be very informative for those who are new in the field of Network Administration.

 

Microsoft(s MSFT) has chosen the brand names under which it will sell Windows 8.

How To Share Local Drives and Folders with a Guest OS in VMWare Workstation

VMware Workstation provides an important facility to share local drives and folders of Host OS with Guest OS so that your virtual machine can easily access data from you Host OS/PC. This saves a lot of time.  To share drives and folders, you must have the most recent version of VMware Tools installed in the Guest OS.  Lets have a look we are going to add folder/drive in Virtual Machine Control Panel. Here, I am demonstrating to share/map my Download folder from host to Windows 8  Guest VM.

Select Virtual Machine in VMware Workstation>>Click on VM Option>>Choose Setting

(Ctrl+D is shortcut keys to launch settings)

Then Select Option Tab>>Click Always Enable if you want permanently share the drive into Guest OS or can choose Enable until Power Off/Suspend for temporary availability.>>Click Add

Sharing Wizard will popup Click Next>>

Browse and Select the drive/folder what you want inside your Guest OS. 

I am selecting Download Folder as I have described above.

Selection would be like this, Click on Next.

If you want to check Read only Option, Check it here.  This will restrict  your sharing into Read Only permissions.

Now, I have share Download Folder as Mapped network drive in Guest OS.

Great!, You can see, My Download folder of Host OS is not mapped/share in my Windows 8 Guest OS.

Thank You. Please comment if you found any difficulty/problem.

How to Remove Recycler Folder Virus/Autorun Virus

This is very common virus in Windows operating systems and annoying computer users.  It spreads itself via removable media like USB flash memory cards or pen drives. Once inside your computer then can disable your anti-virus program, block access to computer protection websites and slow down speed of  your computer.  How to remove it? Lets start:

Stop It from Task Manager

• Press the “Ctrl,” “Shift” and “Esc” keys at the same time to start the Task Manager or launch the task manager from “Ctrl”, “Alt” and “Del” option.
• Click the “Processes” tab in the Task Manager’s window and select “ctfmon.exe.”
• Click “End Process” at the bottom of the window and close the Task Manager.

Remove from Registry

• Go to the “Start” menu, type “regedit” in the “Start Search” box or in Run option and hit “Enter” to start the Registry Editor.
• Browse to and delete the following entry:
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ActiveSetup\ Installed Components\ {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAX5-90401C608512}
• Close the Registry Editor.

Delete the File

• Go to the “Start” menu, type “ctfmon.exe” in the “Start Search” box and hit “Enter” or search entire computer/all partitions.
• Right-click the search result(s) and select “Delete.
• Restart your computer.

Note: You must create registry backup in order to meet any abnormal behavior or accidental deletion of registry entry other than I have describe above.  If your Regedit, Folder Options and Task Manager is disabled by Autorun Virus then Download this “Remove Restriction Tool“.  Which is very smart tool to re-enable all your disabled options by the viruses.  In the last, scan your all USBs/Pen Drives with Flash Disinfector to remove recycler virus from them.

Using Recycler Virus Removal Tool to delete the virus automatically

Autorun Remover is a specialized autorun removal tool to clean the autorun type virus including recycler virus, with it, you can get rid of the autorun.inf and recycler.exe easily and quickly.

1. Download and install Autorun Virus Remover;
2. if you USB drives has autorun.inf folder in it, insert it into computer;
3. Execute the tool, Click ‘Start’ to execute the scan.

If Autorun Remover is blocked by the recyclers virus then run system in safe mode and try again. To do this reboot your system and tap F8 repeatedly when system starts up.

Autorun Virus Remover is the most effectively autorun antivirus software in the market, with the product, it is an easy job for you to block any autorun.inf virus from USB drives.

How To Check Who Is Connected To Your WiFi Network Without Your Permission

Wireless Network Watcher is a small utility that scans your wireless network and displays the list of all computers and devices that are currently connected to your network.  For every computer or device that is connected to your network, the following information is displayed: IP address, MAC address, the company that manufactured the network card, and optionally the computer name.  You can also export the connected devices list into html/xml/csv/text file, or copy the list to the clipboard and then paste into Excel or other spreadsheet application.

System Requirements And Limitations

• This utility works on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003/2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
• This utility can only scan a wireless network that you’re currently connected to. It cannot scan other wireless networks.
• In rare cases, it’s possible that Wireless Network Watcher won’t detect the correct wireless network adapter, and then you should go to ‘Advanced Options’ window (F9), and manually choose the correct network adapter.
• Although this utility is officially designed for wireless networks, you can also use it to scan a small wired network

Using Wireless Network Watcher

• Wireless Network Watcher doesn’t require any installation process or additional dll files. In order to start using it, simply extract the executable file (WNetWatcher.exe) from the zip file, and run it.
• If you want, you can also download WNetWatcher with full install/uninstall support (wnetwatcher_setup.exe), so a shortcut for running WNetWatcher will be automatically added into your start menu.
• After running WNetWatcher, it automatically locates your wireless adapter, and scans your network. After a few seconds, you should start see the list of computers that are currently connected to your network.
• If from some reason, WNetWatcher failed to locate and scan your network, you can try to manually choosing the correct network adapter, by pressing F9 (Advanced Options) and choosing the right network adapter.

Translating Wireless Network Watcher to other languages

In order to translate Wireless Network Watcher to other language, follow the instructions below:

1. Run Wireless Network Watcher with /savelangfile parameter:
   WNetWatcher.exe /savelangfile
   (A file named WNetWatcher_lng.ini will be created in the folder of WNetWatcher utility)
2. Open the created language file in Notepad or in any other text editor.
3. Translate all string entries to the desired language. Optionally, you can also add your name and/or a link to your Web site. (TranslatorName and TranslatorURL values) If you add this information, it’ll be used in the ‘About’ window.
4. After you finish the translation, Run WNetWatcher, and all translated strings will be loaded from the language file.
   If you want to run WNetWatcher without the translation, simply rename the language file, or move it to another folder.

Download

Zip File for Direct Run

Setup File for Installation