Guide for configuring and using WDS in Longhorn 5270

Here is a guide for configuring and using WDS (Windows Deployment Services) in Longhorn 5270, enjoy…

In this scenario I have used four computers for testing:

SRV001 – Longhorn 5270 (DC, DNS, DHCP and WDS)

PC0001 – Technician computer, Tools, CD/DVD burner

PC0002 – Master (reference) Vista installation for Ximage and WDS capture utility

PC0003 – Deployment Target

The guide is divided into four parts

Part 1 - Install and configure WDS requirements (Longhorn  Server)

Part 2 - Create and add a staged build of Windows Vista using Ximage

Part 3 - Create and add a staged build of Windows Vista using WDS Capture Utility

Part 4 - Deploy a Vista Image from WDS

Note:

WDS requires a sysprepped (e.g. staged) image. There are two methods for creating the staged image for WDS. One is using Ximage and the other is using the WDS capture utility.

You can use the same reference computer for both Ximage and WDS capture utility, just don’t allow it to run mini-setup it in between.

Part 1 – Install and configure WDS requirements (Longhorn Server)

1. Install Longhorn Server 5270 on SRV001 and add the Active Directory Domain Services (AD) and DNS Server roles using the Initial Configuration Tasks application.
   
   
2. Install DHCP Server by starting a command prompt and execute the following command:
   
   DHCP_b2install.cmd Install
   
   Note: Don’t even think about of installing DHCP server from the Initial Configuration Tasks application in build 5270, it just doesn’t work J
   
   
3. Authorize the DHCP Server in AD and create a IPV4 Scope
   
   

Part 2 - Create and add a staged build of Windows Vista using Ximage

1. On PC0001 (Technician computer), create a folder named C:\Winpe20 and copy the following file and folder from the Vista DVD to it.
   
   BOOTMGR (file)
   BOOT (folder)

2. Create a subfolder folder named C:\Winpe20\Sources and copy the following file from the Vista DVD to it.
   
   SOURCES\boot.wim

4. In the c:\winpe20\tools folder, create a file named wimscript.ini with the following content.

[ExclusionList]

Hiberfil.sys

Pagefile.sys

"System Volume Information"

$RECYCLE.BIN

RECYCLED

5. Change the boot image number to 1 in boot.wim using ximage by starting a command prompt and run the following commands

cd /d c:\winpe20\Tools

ximage.exe /boot /info c:\winpe20\sources\boot.wim 1

6. Copy the oscdimg.exe file folder from a WinPE 2005 CD (found in \winpe folder) to c:\winpe20\tools

7. Compile a new bootable Vista WinPE by starting a command prompt and execute the following commands
   
   cd /d c:\winpe20\tools
   
   oscdimg.exe -bc:\winpe20\boot\etfsboot.com -h -n c:\winpe20 c:\winpe20.iso

8. Burn the c:\winpe20.iso file to a CD
   
   
9. On PC0002 (Master (reference) Vista installation for Ximage), install Windows Vista 5270, either manually or using an answerfile (see my previously posted guide on how to do unattended installs with Vista)
   
   
10. Logon as administrator and run the following command
    
    c:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /quiet /generalize /shutdown /oobe
    
    
11. Start the sysprepped computer (PC0002) again and boot from the customized Windows PE 2.0 (including the ximage tool)
    
    
12. Capture the Vista installation by executing the following commands
    
    cd /d <cd-drive>:\tools
    
    md c:\Images
    
    ximage /capture C: C:\Images\Vista-5270.wim “Vista 5270”
    
    Note: The image file will be about 1.7 GB in size when capturing a clean Vista Install. <cd-drive> is not X:, X: is the mounted boot.wim file.
    
    


13. While still in WinPE, connect and copy the C:\Images\Vista-5270.wim file to a folder on SRV001 (I used D:\Images). Then shutdown PC0002.
    
    Note: If you want to use PC002 when testing WDS Capture utility as well it’s important that you do not restart it and allow mini-setup to run. The WDS Capture utility requires a sysprepped installation.
    
    
14. On SRV001, using the WDS Console, add the Local Server and Configure it. I used the following parameters
    
    Remote Installation Folder Location: D:\Reminst
    Do not listen on port 67: Selected
    Configure DHCP Option Tag #60 to ‘PXE Client’: Selected
    Respond to all client computes: Selected
    Install images on the Windows Deployment Server now: Not Selected
    
    
15. Add the \Sources\boot.wim file from the Vista DVD as a boot image, either using the WDS Console or by starting a command prompt and execute the following command
    
    WDSUTIL /add-image /imagefile:x:\sources\boot.wim /imagetype:boot /Name:”WinPE Boot Image”
    
    
16. Add the D:\images\Vista-5270.wim file as an install image, either using the WDS Console or by starting a command prompt and execute the following commands.
    
    WDSUTIL /add-imagegroup /imagegroup:TSLAB
    
    WDSUTIL /add-image /imagefile:"D:\Images\vista-5270.wim" /imagetype:install /imagegroup:TSLAB
    
    
17. Using WDS Console, add an Unattend.xml file to the install Image (right-click, select properties).

Part 3 - Create and add a staged build of Windows Vista using WDS Capture Utility

1. On SRV001, create a winpe boot image with WDS Capture utility by starting a command prompt and issue the following command.
   
   WDSUTIL /new-captureimage /image:"WinPE boot image" /Architecture:x86 /DestinationImage /FilePath:D:\Images\winpecapture.wim
   
   Note: The Image name is the name of the previously added winpe boot image (I used the name “WinPE boot image”)
   
   
2. Change the image name using the following command.
   
   ximage /info d:\images\winpecapture.wim 1 "WDS Image Capture Client"
   
   
3. Add the new D:\Images\winpecapture.wim file as a boot image, either using the WDS Console or by starting a command prompt and execute the following command
   
   WDSUTIL /add-image /imagefile:D:\Images\winpecapture.wim /imagetype:boot /Name:"WDS Capture Utility"
   
   
4. Start the PC0002 computer (the already sysprepped Vista installation) and PXE boot into the WDS Image Capture utility (Select WinPE Boot Image)
   
   Note: The WDS client displays the wrong image names (IMHO), it doesn’t use the names from the WDS console, instead it is using the name from the index inside the wim-file.
   
   
5. Press Shift+F10 and map a network drive to SRV001 (I mapped F: to d$)
   
   
6. I used the following settings in the WDS Capture Utility
   
   Volume to capture: C:\
   Image Name: Vista 5270 using WDS Capture
   ImageDescription: Vista 5270 using WDS Capture
   Name and location: F:\Images\Vista_5270_WDS_Capture.wim
   
   
7. On SRV001, add the D:\Images\Vista_5270_WDS_Capture.wim install image to WDS.
   
   
8. To fully automate the deployment, copy an Unattend.xml file to d:\reminst\WdsClientUnattended and enable Unattend mode (right-click the wds server, select properties, in the Windows DS Client tab, select the enable Unattend mode checkbox and browse to the Unattend.xml file.
   
   Note: You can also add an Unattend.xml to an install image (right-click the install image file, select properties and the Select File).
   
   

Part 4 - Deploy a Vista Image from WDS

1. Start PC0003 and create/format a partition
   
   
2. PXE boot PC0003 into WDS client, select Microsoft Windows Longhorn setup (X86)) , start the setup guide and logon, select the image to deploy…
   
   
3. Have some coffee….
   
   

Johan Arwidmark

Microsoft MVP – Setup / Deployment