Install and Configure Windows 2003 Remote Installation Services

8/6/2019 Install and Configure Windows 2003 Remote Installation Services

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Install and Configure Windows 2003 Remote InstallationServices (RIS)

RIS is Microsoft's version of 3rd party imaging software such as Symantec's Ghost. RIS uses varioustechnologies, such as PXE and DHCP to install clean installations, (not upgrade), of several operationsystems. The PXE protocol is a combination of DHCP and TFTP, where DHCP is used to locate a boot server or

servers, with TFTP used to download the initial bootstrap program and additional files. The bootstrapprogram can then begin the OS installation.

The process of installing and configuring RIS is described below:

• Step 1 - Install the Remote Installation Service

• Step 2 - Further Configuration for Extended Use

• Step 3 - Using Symantec Ghost with RIS

• Step 4 - Troubleshooting RIS

• Create an Unattended Install Answer File

• Create a Ghost Image Bootable DVD

Step 1 - Install the Remote Installation Service

RIS Prerequisites:

RIS requires a DHCP server, a DNS server, and an Active Directory Domain Controller, all of which can be onthe same server or a standalone server, it doesn't matter as long as they are accessible. The RIS server willneed at least a 2GB NTFS partition and the client image cannot be stored on the system drive

RIS clients need to be PXE compliant. If in the client's BIOS screen or Boot Device options there is an optionfor "Network Boot" then the chances are that the computer is PXE compliant.

Although it is not necessary, an isolated subnet with an isolated domain can offer security for the RIS Service

as well as making it impossible for users to accidentally start a RIS install and lose their data.

Limitations of RIS:

RIS delivers only clean installs of XP Professional, you cannot use this technology to upgrade clients such asWindows 98 to XP. While you cannot use RIS to install domain controllers, you can have Windows Server2003 stand alone servers which can then join the domain and promoted to domain controllers. Wirelessnetworks do not support PXE network cards, so you cannot use the wireless medium to install XP Professionalvia RIS. The RIS Server can be a Member Server, in fact it's probably BETTER to offer RIS from a Member Server thana Domain Controller.

Once these conditions have been met then The Install can begin from the Add/Remove Program ControlPanel:

http://www.alanphipps.com/WindowsAdmin-Server-RIS.html#Step1




http://www.alanphipps.com/WindowsAdmin-Server-RIS.html#AnswerFile

http://www.alanphipps.com/WindowsAdmin-Server-RIS.html#GhostDVD





http://www.alanphipps.com/WindowsAdmin-Server-RIS.html#GhostDVD




Tick the "Remote Installation Services" Checkbox and press Next.

Windows will then copy the necessary files,you may be prompted for the windows CD.



Once the files have been copied, press Finish.

If required, restart the server just now.

Once you have logged in again, start RIS from the Administrative Tools start menu shortcut



Press Next

Any folder can be used as long as it is NTFS and not the system drive

If the folder you selected already exists then you will be asked to confirm your choice.



The above setting mean that any pc that contacts the server will be accepted for RIS install. By ticking theother box, the client PC's Computer account must first be created in Active Directory. If no boxes are tickedthen no RIS installations will take place. These settings can be changed after the Installation has finished.

Here you enter the location of your XP Setup Files. Any location can be used, CD, local copy or networklocation.



This is the name of the folder that the image will be stored in, if it is not a standard image, then this can bereflected in the name.

Here the Image description can be entered, again if it is not a standard image, then this can be reflected inthe description.



A brief reminder of the selections made and a chance to go back if something needs changed, otherwisepress Finish.

the Install process will take about 30 min's, if there are any errors, they will be displayed.



here you can change the Server respond settings and also Verify the server configuration . Press AdvancedSettings



The naming convention for the Computer accounts can be customized here, for the Client install to be asautomatic as possible select custom as above.

The above format will ensure that the server creates incremental names for the computer accounts, if theRIS server is on an isolated domain, then this setup ensures that you don't have to create/delete/modify thecomputer accounts as they will have no effect on your live domain.

Here you can install a new image for another OS or another version of the same OS. Press Add



The "Add new installation image" option takes you through the same process as we have just completed tocreate a new image. The "Associate a new answer file to an existing image" option allows you to customizethe RIS image further, choose this option.

The "Windows image Sample Files" option allows you to choose between 2 preset answer files, a standardone and one that does not repartition the hard drive. The "Another Remote Installation Server" option allowsyou to select an answer file already configured on another RIS server. The "An Alternate Location" allows youto select an answer file from a local or network drive, choose this option.



Choose the Image you want to add the answer file to.

Locate the Answer file with the Browse button, it must have the .sif extension, To learn how to create ananswer file click here.





Enter a Description and Help Text

Review your settings and press Finish



Your new Answer file has been added, both choices will now be available to the RIS Client.

Few properties are configurable but by pressing Permissions:



You can decide who can Read/Modify the answer file.

To Allow User to install a Client Image using RIS

In order for normal users to install an OS with RIS they must be able to create computer accounts in the

domain, this is done as follows:

Open Active Directory Users and Computers from the Administrative Tools Program Menu or by typingdsa.msc at the run prompt:

Select Delegate Control from the Domain Context Menu



Press Add and select the User(s) you want to grant the permission to

Press Next



Press Next

All Done, the specified users can now use RIS to install an OS image.

Step 3 - Using Symantec Ghost with RIS

RIS can be used to deploy Ghost images to any PXE compliant RIS client by using the following method:



Open Symantec Ghost Console and select Tools/Boot Wizard

Symantec Ghost must be installed on a RIS server for the RIS option to appear. Press Next



Here you select the network card drivers used for this boot disk, most common drivers are included but youcan download other versions from the manufacturers website and add them here too.

Here you can choose the DOS version to br used for the boot disk, PC-DOS will do but if necessary you canuse MS-DOS from a floppy disk.



Here you select the Ghost.exe file to be used on the boot disk and any command line parameters that youneed.

More options but both are unnecessary for a RIS image deployment.



For use with RIS leave this as above, RIS uses DHCP after all so the service will be available.

An image specific Boot Name.



A last chance to change any settings.

All Done, press Finish.



Close Ghost Console and locate the RIS folder, created when you installed RIS, the new ghost image will havebeen added to the appropriate location as above.

Step 4 - Troubleshooting RIS

RIS Client Does Not Connect to RIS Server

Open The DHCP Management Console on the DHCP Server that serves the RIS clients:

Right-click on Scope Options and select Configure Options



Ensure that option 066 Boot Server Host Name holds either the RIS Server's IP Address or it's DNS Name

Ensure that option 067 Bootfile Name holds the location of the bootstrap program loader, in the Standardwindows RIS Install the location is OSChooser\i386\startrom.com



Attempt the RIS install again.

RIS Client Does Not Pick up an IP Address

Check that you can reach the DHCP server and check that the server is Authorized in Active Directory. Right-click on the DHCP Server in the DHCP Management console and select Authorize

My Client is not PXE Compliant

There is a program called rbfg.exe located at RISFolder\Admin\i386, this program creates a Specialized bootdisk that can be used when the network card is not PXE compliant, however, the included drivers are limited,but it might work.

Create an Unattended Install Answer File

Explore the windows XP or windows 2003 Install CD and open the Deploy.cab file in the Support\Tools folder



Extract and run Setupmgr.exe

Press Next



Select Remote Installation Services (RIS) and press next

Choose which OS you want to install, please note that although you can Install windows 2003 with RIS, youcannot make it a Domain Controller.



Here you choose the level of Interaction that will be required during the RIS install, choose Fully Automated.

Accept the terms of the License Agreement



Go through the options and configure them as you see fit. When finished press Finish and the Answer file will

be saved to a location of your choosing.

Create a Ghost Image Bootable DVD

A Ghost Bootable DVD is not a necessary part of windows RIS, but it provides a means of making your GhostImages portable. Once you have added the ghost component to RIS in step 3 then you can create an imageusing GhostCast Server that comes as part of the Symantec Ghost Server.

Once an image has been created save it to a folder on a pc or server that has a DVD Writer and a copy of Nero installed. Name the image as image.gho

You will also need a Windows 98 Boot disk, alternatively you can create a DOS boot disk in Ghost console byselecting the "CD/DVD Startup Disk with Ghost" option in Ghost Boot Wizard Tools menu. Download a copyof GhostBootDiskFiles and add them to the folder.

The file autoexec.bat contains the following text:

The text that starts with ECHO is what is displayed on screen during the ghosting process, change this towhatever suits you.

@echo off

MSCDEX.EXE /D:CDROM /L:R

CLS

ECHO Initializing Ghost Recovery....ECHO.

CLSECHO Do you wish to Restore Windows Xp to its Original State?ECHO All Data will be erased!ECHO Yes or No [y/n]ECHO.ECHO Setup will automatically exit after 15 Seconds.ECHO.

http://www.alanphipps.com/Files/GhostBootDiskFiles.zip

http://www.alanphipps.com/Files/GhostBootDiskFiles.zip



Select DVD-ROM(Boot) and on the right select "Bootable logical drive (must fit on the DVD), im currentlyworking on my laptop which has no floppy drive so this option was not available, but in your case make surethat you select the drive that has the floppy disk in it. Select the ISO Tab.



Set as above and press the label tab.

You can change the name as you see fit, No options need to be configured on the Dates or Misc tab so pressBurn.



Burn at whatever speed you like and press New.



Copy the files from the folder you made earlier on and burn the DVD. Once complete you DVD should beready to use, but remember that the DVD will overwrite all files that are currently on the PC, so make abackup of any important documents.

All Done

Install and Configure Windows 2003 Remote Installation Services

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