Unattended and PXE

[flekso]

Hello,
I would greatly appreciate a short overview of things needed to boot and
start a remote Unattended setup using PXE.
I've already done a couple of local Unattended setups, so no problem with
that.

Thanks.

 

[Johan Arwidmark]

One approach is to use RIS Server to launch an unattended setup

Remote Installation Services overview
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../standard/proddocs/en-us/sag_RIS_Overview.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...proddocs/en-us/sag_RIS_SystemRequirements.asp
Remote Installation Services system requirements


regards
Johan Arwidmark

Windows User Group - Nordic
http://www.wug-nordic.net

 

[flekso]

Sorry, I forgot to add that the server is going to be XP...
....I've got most of the stuff sorted out, just need a bit more explaining of
the boot process and tftp.

Do I need to write my own boot sector, or is there one that has the support
for net boot ? Are the installation files going to be copied to the client
or do they remain on the server ?

Thanks.

"Johan Arwidmark" <[email protected]> je
napisao u poruci interesnoj
grupi:[email protected]...

 

[Craig]

Hi Flekso,

Try this link to see what RIS is all about. There is some good info on
what we need, how to start and what to do next.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deploy
guide/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/de
ployguide/en-us/acicc_ris_uwbo.asp

Here are couple more links that you maybe interested as well.

How to use the Sysprep tool to automate successful deployment of Windows XP
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302577>

Description of New Features in Sysprep for Windows XP
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;282190>

Automating & Customizing Installations
<http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deplo
yguide/en-us/dpgaci_overview.asp>

How To Use Setup Manager to Create an Answer File in Windows 2000 *this
works for Windows XP & 2003
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308662>

How to Perform an Unattended Installation of Windows from a CD-ROM
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314459>

I hope this helps.

****************************************************************************
*
My name is Craig & I'm from the Microsoft Setup Team

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp

See the Windows NT Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps to ensure a
more timely response. Thank you!

This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

The views and opinions expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do
not necessarily express or reflect the views and / or opinions of
Microsoft.
****************************************************************************
**

 

[Patrick J. LoPresti [MVP]]

I think you will find my project interesting:

http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

But briefly... Yes, you need a PXE boot sector. You also need
something for it to boot. For the former, we use PXELINUX, which is a
good generic PXE boot loader. For the latter, we use either a
diskless Linux kernel or a ramdisk-based DOS boot floppy (ramdisk
services provided by "memdisk", which is part of the PXELINUX
utility).

Once you have a diskless OS environment (Linux or DOS) running, you
run winnt.exe just like you do when booting from a floppy.

The modern "Microsoft way" of handling this is to use Remote
Installation Services, but that does require a Windows server.

- Pat