Windows Deployment Service (WDS)

Rhonda J. LayfieldSr. Deployment Architect

Windows Deployment Service

• WDS replaces Remote Installation Services (RIS)

• Provides both boot and installation images from the WDS server

• Supports .WIM and .VHD technology

WDS Requirements

DHCPDHCP

WDSWDS

AD/DNSAD/DNS

Bare-MetalBare-Metal

1

2

3

Installing WDS• In the box with Server products, well kind of• Install WDS on a 2003 SP1 Server

– Install RIS– Install patch from the WAIK: windows_deployment_services_update.exe

• Install WDS on a 2003 SP2 Server• Control Panel / Add/Remove Programs / Windows Components / WDS

• Install WDS on a 2008 (& R2) server– Server Manager– Add Roles– Select Windows Deployment Services from the list of roles

Configuring WDSWDS snap-in

Right-click Servers

Add Server – defaults to local server

Right-click your server and choose Configure Server.

Store Your Images

Store your images on a drive other than where the OS resides

WDS Server also a DHCP Server?

WDS server responds to…

Known Clients Prestaged in AD

Prestaging and The GUID

564D49219C768546A956C310ED7D2BF6

Use a Specific WDS Server

Add a Boot Image• A boot image is a Windows Pre Installation

Environment (WinPE)• The most current will always be best• Windows 7 SP1 Boot.wim can deploy

– Vista SP1 – Windows 7 – Windows 7 SP1– Windows Server 2003 R2, 2008 and 2008 R2

• Use an older WinPE will produce undesired results

Will Any Winpe Work?• NO• WinPE you create lacks some

necessary files• WinPE from the W7 DVD has these

already• They look like this:

DEMOWDS and WinPE

Add an OS Image• Both .wim and .vhd are supported• Adding a .wim

– Right–click Install Images• Add Install Image• Image Groups

• Adding a .vhd– Elevated command prompt– WDSUTIL /Add-Image /ImageFile:\\Server\Share \Win7.vhd

/Server:WDSServer /ImageType:Install /ImageGroup:Windows7 /Filename:"Windows7.vhd"

Add Drivers & Applications• 3rd party drivers only

• No Applications can be deployed from WDS

• Only a Thick image containing your applications

From The Client• Perform a Network Boot– Sometimes called a Pre Execution Boot

Process– OR– PXE Boot

DEMO

WDS And Network Deployments

Multicast TransmissionsServer1 sends packet 1 to client1Server1 sends packet 1 to client2Server1 sends packet 1 to client3

Server1 sends packet 1 to all clients

Server1 sends packet 1 to client1, client2, client3

Windows Deployment Services

Multicast Enhancements• Multiple streams of traffic

– Optimized rates based onclient connection

• Client Auto Removal– Slower clients can be

dropped to unicast or entirely (only in standard multicast)

• Boot Image Multicast– Windows PE boot

images can use multicast (clients with EFI)

Fast

Medium

Slow

Multicast

WDS Server

First client joins “transmission”

WDS Server

Multicast

Fast Medium Slow Medium

WDS Server

Multicast

FastMedium Slow Medium FastMedium Medium

WDS Server

Multicast

Medium MediumSlow

WDS Server

Multicast

MANAGE WDS IMAGES

Manage WDS Images• Change the OS within an image• Change applications within an image• Change drivers or get a list of drivers• Change windows features like fire wall

settings

Meet DISM• Deployment Image Servicing and

Management Tool

DEMOMeet DISM

The Best of Both Worlds

Integrating MDT & WDS Together

WDS ServerWDS Server

MDT & WDS Together

MDT WinPE MDT WinPE

MDT 2010 U1 Deployment Server

Download ImageDownload Image

Win 7 ImageWin 7 Image

TargetsTargets

PXE BootPXE Boot

Feature Comparison MDT 2010 MDT 2012 WDS

Supports .wim images YES YES YES

Supports .vhd images NO YES YES

Requires Infrastructure NO NO YES

Manage images easily YES YES NO

Driver management Easy Easy Difficult

Provides PXE capabilities W/ WDS W/WDS YES

Provides Multicast W/ WDS W/WDS YES

Creates offline or stand alone media YES YES NO

Automate Deployments YES YES YES

Corporate Deployment Share replicates DS to Branch Offices

YES YES NO