WDS Prerequisites
- The Windows Deployment Services server must be a member of an Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) domain or a domain controller. You may need to ‘Install Active Directory in Windows Server 2012 R2‘.
- The Domain Name System (DNS) server on the network before you can run Windows Deployment Services. DNS will install with Active directory domain services, but if you have not, read the DNS Installation article ‘Install and Configure DNS in Windows Server 2012 R2‘.
- For deploying IP address you must have a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server with an active scope on the network because Windows Deployment Services uses PXE, which relies on DHCP for IP addressing the clients that want to install OS remotely. Read the topic ‘Install and Configure DHCP Server on Windows Server 2012 R2‘ for DHCP Server.
- You must have the appropriate credential to install role. It means you must be the member of local admin or domain admin. The hard disk volume must be NTFS.
How to Install and Configure WDS?
In Windows Server, sign in to the server as a domain admin and open the Server Manager if it’s not will start automatically. If the step by step is time consuming for your, watch the video tutorial at the end of this article.
Windows Server Manager
On the Server Manager click Manage and then click Add roles and features. On the Before you begin page click Next.
Role-based or Feature-based installation page
On the Select installation type page, click Role-based or feature-based installation, and then click Next.
Destination Server for Windows Deployment Services
On the Select destination server page, select the appropriate server, and then click Next. By default the MS2.technig.local server has selected.
Windows Deployment Services Role
On the Select server roles page, scroll down and then select Windows Deployment Services check box. in the Add feature that are required for Windows Deployment Services? click Add Features and click Next. This task will install the Windows Deployment Services Tools which included in Windows Remote server administration tools.
Install Windows Deployment Services Role
On the Select features page, click Next.
Windows Deployment Services Features
On the WDS page once read the information and click Next.
Deployment Server and Transport Server
On the Select role services page, select the role services to install for Windows Deployment Services. Leave these role services selected by default if you want to install both the Deployment Server and Transport Server. Click Next.
Confirm Installation of Windows Deployment Services
Finally on the Confirm installation selections page, click Install.
How to Install and Configure WDS In Windows Server 2012 R2
When the installation process complete successfully, click Close and go to Server Manager dashboard. Now we have the WDS role and lets try to configure it.
How to Configure Windows Deployment Services?
While you are log in as domain admin account or local administrators members, go to Server Manager and click Tools then click Windows Deployment Services in order to open it.
Windows Server Manager Dashboard
On the Windows Deployment Services console page expand the Servers and right click the MS2.technig.local then click Configure Server.
Windows Deployment Services Console – Install and Configure WDS
On the Windows Deployment Services Configuration Wizard page, read it once and click Next.
Windows Deployment Services Configuration Wizard
On the Install Options page select integrated with Active Directory and then click Next.
WDS Install Options
On the Remote Installation Folder Location, select the location where you want to keep all Windows Images and configuration files and then click Next.
Remote Installation Folder Location – Install and Configure WDS
On the PXE Server Initial Settings page select Respond to all client computers (Know and unknown) and click Next. Remember, we are in the test area so in the real network environment select whatever you want.
WDS PXE Server Initial Settings
The sever will start and complete the configuration. On the Operation Complete page unchecked the Add image to server now and then click Finish
WDS – Operation Complete – Install and Configure WDS
Here is the Windows Deployment Services in Windows Server 2012 R2.
Windows Deployment Services In Windows Server 2012 R2
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