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Deploying Windows 7 Using Windows Deployment ServicesPrajwal Desai

In the previous post we saw the steps to Install and Conf igure Windows Deployment Services. Inthis post we will see the steps to deploy windows 7 using windows deployment services. Bef orewe start deploying windows 7 using WDS lets understand the role of DHCP server. WindowsDeployment Services uses PXE, which relies on DHCP f or IP addressing.

Right click on WDS server and click on Properties. Click on DHCP. The question is when should oneselect the DHCP options and in what cases ?

CASE 1 – If DHCP and WDS are running on same subnet but on dif f erent machines – You need to notconf igure the DHCP options at all. There will no broadcast issues when DHCP and WDS are running ondif f erent machines and on the same subnet.

CASE 2 – If DHCP and WDS roles are installed on same server – In this case you must tell WDS not tolisten on port 67 and set DHCP option 60 so that clients can f ind the WDS server. So options Do notlisten on port 67 and Configure DHCP option 60 to indicate that this server is also a PXE servermust be checked.

CASE 3 – If DHCP and WDS are running on a dif f erent servers that are on dif f erent subnets – In this caseyou must conf igure your router to f orward broadcast packets because most of ten we see that broadcastpackets are not allowed to cross other subnets. All DHCP broadcasts by client computers on UDP port 67should be f orwarded directly to both the DHCP server and the Windows Deployment Services server. Also,all traf f ic on UDP port 4011 f rom the client computers to the Windows Deployment Services server shouldbe routed appropriately. To help WDS client f ind the WDS server we must conf igure DHCP option 66 andDHCP option 67. Option 66 should be set to the Windows Deployment Services server, and option 67should be set to boot\x86\wdsnbp.com. Set the DHCP option 66 to hostname of the WDS server or the IPaddress of WDS server. DHCP option 67 is f or boot f ile name , the clients will need the boot f ile in orderto boot, so set option 67 to boot\x86\wdsnbp.com f or 32 bit clients and f or 64 bit clientsboot\x64\wdsnbp.com.

Client Naming Policy – Right click WDS server, click on Properties, select AD DS. Under the ClientNaming Policy specif y the f ormat based on which computers will named. The def ault naming pattern is%61Username%# , this means WDS will create computer name using username who logged on whenrunning remote installation process and # is the number 1,2,3..up to 999 will be added af ter username.

Security – To add the permissions f or the user account on the Image Group, right click the Image Groupand click on Security. Add the user account f rom the active directory and provide Full Control. If you areusing a domain admin account during the installation of WDS ignore this step.

Should the computer be a part of domain after deployment – If you do not want the client to be a partof domain then the setting must be changed in the WDS server properties. Right click WDS server, click onProperties and select Client . Under Joining a Domain check the box Do not join the client to a domainafter an installation.

Deploying Windows 7 Using Windows Deployment Services

In the previous post Installing and Conf iguring Windows Deployment Services we had imported the Bootimage and Install image f or windows 7. The DHCP and WDS are running on dif f erent servers but are onsame subnet, so without worrying about broadcast issues, let start the deployment.

We will create a blank virtual machine and set it to boot f rom the network. During this boot process theclient receives the IP f rom the DHCP server and WDS client discovers the WDS server through DHCP serveror by broadcasting the packets. Once the WDS server is f ound the client boots with a WinPE (WindowsPreinstallation Environment) and the image stored on the WDS server is installed on the client machine.

Press F12 to start the network service boot.

Wait f or f ew seconds until the windows loads the f iles f or installation.

choose the locale and click next.

Provide the user account and password. Click on Next.

Select the edit ion of windows 7 that you want to install. Click Next .

Click on next.

Once the installation is complete complete the windows 7 init ial setup.

Note that the client is already joined to the domain. Login to the computer with a domain user account.

The windows 7 has been successf ully deployed to a client using Windows Deployment Services.