Your Guide to Install and Configure

WDS in Windows Server 2012R2

By Eng.Eslam Basyouni

Eslam.Basyouni@yahoo.com
http://www.facebook.com/Eng.EslamBasyouni
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGXvvhXuZqqYU1sRreuDowQ
1- Adding WDS Server Role and configure DHCP option
2- Adding Install and Boot image to WDS Server.
3- Configure Client to boot from Network.
4- Create Capture Image and adding it to server.
5- Advanced Options.

1- Adding WDS Server Role and configure DHCP option

Before install WDS you must have DHCP and DNS on your Network and AD (optional)
I will install WDS in Stand Alone Server not domain member or have any other role just for the proof of Concept
All of this setting in case of this server doesnt have DHCP and working as standalone with no AD, SO we need to configure DHCP
Sever option for WDS Server,

From server properties in DHCP Tab just check first check Box then go to DHCP Server to add Scope option

In DHCP Server we will add scope option

(066 Boot Server Host Name or its IP Address and 076 Boot file Name)
Here is the Boot File Name from the WDS shared Folder
 Note in this lab I used Microsoft DHCP Server, but if you use Cisco DHCP Router or Switch use this command

bootfile Boot\x64\Wdsnbp.com

Next-server 192.168.1.200

In my lab I used one Server have AD DC & DNS & DHCP & WDS to reduce Number of Server Machines and in this
case DHCP setting will configure automatically

Anyway now we have WDS Server and DHCP Server and DNS, Lets add install and boot image
2- Adding Install and Boot image to WDS Server.
This is the install image which contain our operating system and now we need add the boot files related to this image
Well the WDS is Ready Now, and the Next Step will be from the Client Side where the Client bios must support Pxe Boot
and first boot must be from the network card as the following

3- Configure Client to boot from Network.

As we can see that our client get its IP Configuration and we need to press F12 , this an option on WDS
Server So I will go to server and allow to any Client to go direct to my WDS without any confirmation
and I will explain this option later

Now the client is ready to install the operation system from wds server and it will complete the boot
process then ask for Credential to install the image
 4- Create Capture Image and adding it to server.
Capture image make you capture your operating system after you update it and install your application and program.
To create Capture image, WDS will adding some modification to the boot files so we will choose the boot image that we
need to take Capture image from it.
Type the name of your
Capture image and where
you want to save it
 We got the image, now we can add it
from this wizard or add it later

From here we can add our capture image

 Here is the two boot images, the normal boot image for install the operating
system and the boot image for capture the same operating system

Before Capture your image you must run sysprep command in your client operating system
After client restart we will see the two boot image, we will choose capture image
Here is the system partition (C :\) which we need to capture it, but my system partition here is (E :\)
By the way if you didnt run sysprep command you will not see the volume to capture and this box will be empty

I will save the capture image to my

client computer then upload it to server
 This the new image after update and upload to server

5- Advanced Options.
Now I will explain more options we can use it in WDS, from properties

PXE Response: - where we can see 3 option, dont respond to any client and it mean that disable
wds, and respond only to known client and it mean the client that I have there MAC Address or
GUID and the computer name is already created in AD, and respond to all client known and
unknown but we can make it require administrator approval
The AD DS, will be good if you are in the domain
 The PXE boot policy

Its very good to use unattended installation file where you dont need to be in front of the installation, you can use
Windows System Image Manager Tools from Microsoft or use this link for easy configuration
http://windowsafg.no-ip.org/index.html
http://windowsafg.no-ip.org/win7x86_x64.html

Thats all what we need to know about WDS Server and all the other setting its very easy and doesnt need any explanation

For more information contact me

Eslam.Basyouni@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/Eng.EslamBasyouni