WDS (Windows Deployment Services) is a Windows 2008 Server’s built-in component. It is used for deployment of Windows operating system. Windows Deployment Services is a server role that gives admins the ability to deploy Windows operating systems remotely.

 Benefits of Windows Deployment Services.

  • Allows network-based installation of Windows operating systems, which reduces the complexity and cost when compared to manual installations.
  • Supports deploying images for mixed environments, including Windows 7and Windows Server 2008 R2 through Windows 8.1and Windows Server 2012 R2.
  • Uses standard Windows Setup technologies, including Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE), .wimfiles, and image-based setup.
  • Transmits data and images by using multicast functionality.
  • Allows you to create images on a reference computer using the Image Capture Wizard, which is an alternative to the Image X tool.
  • Allows you to add driver packages to the server and configure them to be deployed to client computers along with the install image.

Requirements

vWindows Deployment Services

vOS images

vActive Directory domain, DNS, DHCP

vNTFS partition to store the images.

Installation and Configuration.

Steps to install Windows Deployment Services.

Go to Server Manager.

Add Roles, located in the Roles Summary pane.

Select Windows Deployment Services.

Make sure that the Development Server and Transport Server is checked.

Click Install. Wait for a few minutes to finish installation.

Steps to configure Windows Deployment Services.

Go to Windows Deployment Services (Start>>Administrative tools).

In the left pane of the Windows Deployment Services MMC, expand the list of servers.

Right-click the server and select Configure Server.

Steps to create Boot Image.

Go to Windows Deployment Services (Start>>Administrative tools).

In the left pane of the Windows Deployment Services MMC, expand the list of servers.

Right-click on the Boot Images.

Select Add Boot Image.

Click Browse

Insert your original Windows 7 CD in your CDROM Drive, and then navigate through the following file path. D:\sources\boot.wim.

On Image Name box, type Install Image.

On Image Description box, type Install Image.

Click Next. Wait for a few minutes to finish adding boot image.

Steps to create Capture Image.

On the WDS MMC left pane, Navigate through Boot Images > Install Image.

Right-click on Install Image.

Select Create Capture Image.

On the Image name box, type Capture Image.

On the Image description box, type Capture Image.

Click Browse. The capture image file will be created and save on the server.

Navigate through c:\remoteinstall\.

Type File name: CaptureImage.wim, then click Open.

Click Next. Wait for a few minutes to finish creating capture image.

Check Add an image to the Windows Deployment Server, then click Finish.

Procedure to Capture Image

On your workstation, install Windows 7 operating system and any special software application that you need on your system. Download and install critical and security updates from Microsoft

Update. Make the necessary adjustment on your graphics settings, sounds, date and time.

Configure other devices such as network interface card (NIC), printers, etc.

Once your workstation is ready for deployment, connect it to your private network where your WDS server is connected

Sysprep your PC.

Sysprep tool is located in the following folder C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\.

  1. Double-click Sysprep.exe
  2. On the System Cleanup Action, select OOBE.
  3. Check Generalize.
  4. OnShutdown Options, choose Shutdown.
  5. During Sysprep process thepcwillshutdown.
  6. Reboot your PC and Boot PXE when it comes up. During the PXE boot process, you will be prompted to choose two options: Install Image or Capture Image.
  7. Select Capture Image, and then hit the Enter key.
  8. On the Windows Deployment Services Image Capture Wizard, Click Next.
  9. On the Volume to capture. Select D.
  10. On the Image name box, type Windows 7 Image.
  11. Click Next.
  12. Click Browse, Save the image file on D:\Windows7.wim.
  13. Check Upload image to a Windows Deployment Services.
  14. Server name, type the IP Address of the WDS Server (Example: 192.168.0.1).
  15. Click Connect.

WDS will prompt you to enter username and password. Enter the administrator account and password, and then click OK.

      16. On the Image Group name, Select Imagegroup1.

      17. Click Next. Wait for several minutes to finish capturing the image

Procedure to Install Image.

  1. Connect your PC to your private network.
  2. Turn on your PC. BootonPXE
  3. Select Install Image, and then hit Enter.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Select the Operation System you want to install
  6. Select the partition you want to install the image.
  7. Click Next.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Windows is now installed.
  10. The System will reboot after the installation.
  11. Done.