Thread: How to set up, configure, and use Remote Installation Services in Windows 2000

SUMMARY

Remote Installation Services (RIS) can be used in Microsoft Windows 2000 Server to mount Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows XP Professional on a remote client PC. To utilize RIS to mount Windows 2000 Server or Windows XP Professional, you should have Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 or a later version mounted on server that is executing RIS.RIS need specific hardware and software on server and client PCs.After you organized the needed hardware and software, mount RIS on a Windows 2000 Server-based PC. RIS should be mounted on hard disk partition with 800 megabytes (MB) to 1 gigabyte (GB) of free space. After RIS is mounted, RIS server should be approved by the Active Directory directory service. The client PC can attach to the RIS server by using either a Pre-Boot Execution Environment (PXE) ROM or a RIS boot disk. After the client computer connects to the RIS server, typical installation process can be used to mount the operating system.

Introduction

You can use RIS for Windows 2000 to set up new client PCs from a remote site. When you would like to set up a new client PC, use RIS to mount a local copy of an operating system. To complete this, utilize a RIS network shared folder as the source of operating system files. RIS used to install Windows 2000 Professional when RIS is executing on a Windows 2000 Server-based PC. You can also install Windows 2000 Server and Windows XP Professional if the Windows 2000 Server-based PC that is running RIS has Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 or current version installed. RIS used to install an operating system on a remote client PC, attach the PC to network. Then, use a PXE ROM or a RIS boot disk to start the client PC. Use a valid user account to log on to your network, contact a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to get an IP address, and then contact a RIS server to install the operating system. This describes the steps that are needed to install, organize, and to use RIS.

Hardware requirements for the RIS server

The RIS server wants the following hardware:
• A Pentium or Pentium II 200 megahertz (MHz) CPU is suggested. At a minimum, a Pentium 166 MHz CPU is needed.
• 64 megabytes (MB) is the minimum amount of RAM needed. If extra services are installed, such as Active Directory, DHCP, or DNS services, the minimum amount of RAM is 96 to 128 MB, depending on the number of services that are running.
• A 2-gigabyte (GB) hard disk drive that is committed to the RIS directory tree on the RIS server is needed.
• A 10-megabits per second (Mbps) or 100-Mbps network adaptor card is needed. A 100-Mbps adaptor card is chosen.

Hardware requirements for the client computer

The client computer wants the following hardware:
• A Pentium 166 MHz or faster CPU
• A NetPC client computer
• 32 MB of RAM
• A 1.2-GB hard disk drive
• A Pre-Boot Execution Environment (PXE) DHCP-based boot ROM that is version .99c or a later version, or a network adaptor that is maintained by RIS boot disk. All the time contact the company of your network adaptor to get the latest version of the PXE ROM.

You should install RIS on a hard disk that is formatted by using the NTFS file system. RIS needs a major amount of disk space and cannot be installed on the equivalent drive or partition where Windows 2000 Server is installed. Make sure that the hard disk drive that you use contains enough free disk space for one full set of the operating system installation files. Usually, you should have a minimum of about 800 MB to 1 GB of hard disk space.

RIS wants some components that are integrated as part of Windows 2000 Server. The following services should be active and accessible to RIS. These services can be installed on individual servers or on the RIS server.

• Domain Name System (DNS)
RIS relies on DNS to set the Active Directory directory service and client PC accounts. You can use any Windows 2000 Active Directory-compliant DNS server, or you can use the DNS server that is offered with Windows 2000 Server.

• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) RIS wants an active DHCP server on the network. The remote boot-enabled clients get an IP address from the DHCP server before they contact RIS.

• Active Directory

RIS relies on Windows 2000 Active Directory to set existing clients and RIS servers. RIS must be installed on a Windows 2000-based server that has access to Active Directory. For instance, you can install RIS on a domain controller or on a server that is a associate of a domain that has access to Active Directory.
Install RIS on a Windows 2000 Server-based computer
1. Find your Windows 2000 Server installation CD.
2. In Windows 2000 Server, click Start, Settings, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Add/Remote Programs.
4. Double-click Add/Remove Windows Components.
5. Click to choose Remote Installation Services, and click Next.
6. Insert the Windows 2000 Server CD in the CD drive, and click OK.
7. Click Finish to end the wizard.
8. When you are prompted to restart your PC, click Yes.
9. After the server has restarted, log on to the PC as local administrator.

Set up RIS

1. Click Start, click Run, type risetup.exe, and then click OK. The Remote Installation Services Setup Wizard starts.
2. On the Welcome page, click Next.
3. Type path of the folder where you mount the RIS files in the Path box, on the Remote Installation Folder Location page, and click Next. By default, the drive and folder are on the main NTFS-formatted hard disk drive that is not a system or a startup drive. By default, the path of the main NTFS-formatted hard disk drive shows in the Path box. Accept the default path, or type a different path.

4. If you want the server to start maintaining clients instantly after you set up RIS, click to select the Respond to clients requesting service check box on the Initial Settings page, and click Next. If you choose this choice, the server can react to clients and supply them with operating system installation options. If you do not choose this choice, the RIS server does not react to the client request service.
5. On the Installation Source Files Location page, type drive letter of the CD drive that have operating system CD.
6. On the Windows Installation Image Folder Name page, type name of the folder that will have workstation files on the RIS server, and click Next. This folder is formed in the folder that you precised in step 3. The folder name must reflect the folders contents. For example, the name of the folder may be Win2000.pro.
7. On the Friendly Description and Help Text page, type a description of the operating system image in the Friendly description box, type Help text in the Help text box, and then click Next.
8. On the Review Settings page, view the settings you have selected, and then click Finish. If you want to modify one of your choices, click Back to return to the proper page. Then, make your changes, click Next until you reach the Review Settings page, and then click Finish.
9. The wizard installs the service and settings that you have chosen. This procedure takes numerous minutes. When this procedure is ended, click Done.

After IIS is installed and set up, you should permit the RIS server in Active Directory. If you do not permit the RIS server, it cannot service clients that request a "network service boot". The RIS server can be allowed in Active Directory from the following PCs:

Authorize RIS in Active Directory

After RIS is installed and set up, you should permit the RIS server in Active Directory. If you do not permit the RIS server, it cannot service clients that request a "network service boot". The RIS server can be allowed in Active Directory from the following PCs:

• Any domain controller
• A member server of the domain
• A Windows 2000 Professional-based workstation that has the Administrator Tools Package and the DHCP Server Management snap-in installed

To approve RIS in Active Directory, follow these steps:

1. Log on to your PC as an enterprise administrator or as a domain administrator of the root domain.
2. Click Start, Programs, Administrative Tools, and then click DHCP.
3. Right-click DHCP, and click Manage Authorized Servers.
4. Click the name of your RIS server in the Authorized DHCP servers list, and click OK.
5. Click Yes when you are prompted to verify that the address is correct.

The users who will be using the RIS service to mount operating systems should have authorization to make PCs accounts in the domain. To grant permission to user, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, Programs, Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. Right-click Your_Domain_Name, and then click Delegate Control.
3. On the Welcome page, click Next.
4. On the Users and Groups page, click Add.
5. In the Select Users, Computers, or Groups list, click the name of the user who you want to create computer accounts, click Add, click OK, and then click Next.
6. Click to select the Join a Computer to the Domain check box, click Next, and then click Finish.

Prerequisites for client installations

Use the network adaptor to start the client computer

The client PC's network adaptor has been set as primary boot device in the system BIOS. When the client PC starts, and it is configured with the network adaptor as the primary boot device, the client PC desires a network service boot from RIS server on network. When a network service boot is requested, DHCP gives an IP address of client PC, and client PC can then download Client Installation Wizard. At this point, wizard prompts a user to log on. Then, the wizard shows a list of unattended installation choices for operating systems. Available options depend on the user's credentials or security group membership. The network administrator uses Group Policy settings to determine which installation options are available to a user. The options are based on the policy that has been defined for the user on the client computer that initiated the network service boot request. After the RIS server is contacted, it prompts the user to press F12 to download the Client Installation Wizard. The user should press F12 only if prompted and only if the user wants a new operating system installation or access to maintenance and troubleshooting tools. After RIS installs operating system, the user can ignore the request to press F12 when the PC starts. Otherwise, you can set the primary boot device to another option in the system BIOS.

Use the RIS boot disk to start the client computer

The RIS boot disk used with PCs that do not have a remote boot-enabled ROM on network adaptor. The RIS boot disk is intended to simulate the PXE startup process for PCs that lack a supported DHCP PXE-based remote boot ROM. To use the RIS boot disk, insert the boot disk in the 3.5 inch disk drive, and then start the client PC. The PC starts from the RIS boot disk and requests that you press F12 to start the network service boot. You should remove the RIS boot disk after pressing F12 and before the text mode part of the Windows 2000 Professional Setup program is completed.

The utility that creates RIS boot disks is named Rbfg.exe and is located in the \RemoteInstall\Admin folder on every RIS server. The Rbfg.exe utility found in the Administrator Tools Package that is added with Windows 2000 Server. The Administrator Tools Package can be deployed across your association by using Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 or Software Installation snap-in for Windows 2000. To make a RIS boot disk, run the Rbfg.exe utility on the RIS server or on a PC that has the Administrator Tools Package installed.

1. Browse the RemoteInstall\Admin\i386 folder on the hard disk drive where you installed RIS. Double-click RBFG.exe. The Windows 2000 Remote Boot Disk Generator dialog box opens.

2. To create a RIS boot disk, insert a disk into the appropriate drive, and then click Create Disk.

1. Use RIS boot disk or the network adaptor to start your client PC. press F12 to start the download of the Client Installation Wizard.
2. On Welcome page, press ENTER.
3. Type a domain user name, type the password, type the domain name, and press ENTER.
4. You get a warning message that states that all the data on the client PC's hard disk will be deleted. To continue, press ENTER.
5. A PC account and a global unique ID for this workstation are shown. Press ENTER to start the operating system Setup program.
6. Type the product key, and then click Next. The product key is situated on back of the installation CD case.
7. Follow the operating system Setup program to complete the operating system installation.
After the installation is finished, enter an existing user account, a password, and a logon domain to log on to the network. At this position, you have successfully used RIS to install and to configure a remote operating system.

Prestage the client computer

By prestaging the client, you can define a particular PC name, and optionally, the RIS server that can service the client. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Locate the container in Active Directory where you want your client accounts to be created.
2. Right-click the container, click New, and then click Computer. The New Object-Computer dialog box is displayed.
3. Type the PC name. Then, authorize domain-join permissions for the user or for the security group that have user who is using PC.
4. Type either the GUID or the universally unique identifier (UUID), and then click to choose the This is a managed computer check box.
5. The next screen prompts you to indicate the RIS server that this PC is serviced by. This option can be left blank to show that any available RIS server can answer and service this client. If you know the physical site of the RIS server and of the client PC, this option used to manually assign the PC to the RIS server.