Remote Installation Services
Encyclopedia
RIS, Remote Installation Services is a Microsoft
-supplied server that allows PXE
BIOS
-enabled computers to remotely execute boot environment variables.
request via the network. Once the request is received, the DHCP Server will supply an IP address
to the machine, and the DNS server will point the client computer to the RIS server, which in turn will issue a disk boot image (often called the "OS Chooser"). Once the OS Chooser environment has been booted, the user must authenticate against the Domain Controller
, and can then select a Windows image to install. The source files for each image can be customized with 3rd party utilies such as NLite
to slipstream updates and service packs, apply tweaks, perform unattended installations, and include software with the operating system.
as an optional component when installed on Windows 2000 Server. Initially, it supported only the distribution of Windows 2000 Professional, but with Service Pack 3 allowed for the remote installation of Windows 2000 Server. RIS was updated twice; once to support Windows XP
, and again to support Windows Server 2003
. With the release of Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003, RIS was replaced with Windows Deployment Services
.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
-supplied server that allows PXE
Preboot Execution Environment
The Preboot eXecution Environment is an environment to boot computers using a network interface independently of data storage devices or installed operating systems.PXE was introduced as part of the Wired for Management framework by Intel and is described in the specification The Preboot...
BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
-enabled computers to remotely execute boot environment variables.
Background
At boot time, a workstation that has been set to boot from PXE will issue a BOOTPBOOTP
In computer networking, the Bootstrap Protocol, or BOOTP, is a network protocol used by a network client to obtain an IP address from a configuration server. The BOOTP protocol was originally defined in RFC 951....
request via the network. Once the request is received, the DHCP Server will supply an IP address
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
to the machine, and the DNS server will point the client computer to the RIS server, which in turn will issue a disk boot image (often called the "OS Chooser"). Once the OS Chooser environment has been booted, the user must authenticate against the Domain Controller
Domain controller
On Windows Server Systems, a domain controller is a server that responds to security authentication requests within the Windows Server domain...
, and can then select a Windows image to install. The source files for each image can be customized with 3rd party utilies such as NLite
NLite
nLite and vLite are freeware applications which create customized installation CDs or DVDs for Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista. nLite lets users customize and remove components from their Windows installation disc thus creating a custom version, this is...
to slipstream updates and service packs, apply tweaks, perform unattended installations, and include software with the operating system.
History
Remote Installation Services was introduced with Windows 2000Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
as an optional component when installed on Windows 2000 Server. Initially, it supported only the distribution of Windows 2000 Professional, but with Service Pack 3 allowed for the remote installation of Windows 2000 Server. RIS was updated twice; once to support Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, and again to support Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005...
. With the release of Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003, RIS was replaced with Windows Deployment Services
Windows Deployment Services
Windows Deployment Services is a technology from Microsoft for network-based installation of Windows operating systems. It is the successor to Remote Installation Services...
.
Overview
On Windows 2003, two services are required to provide Remote Installation Services: DHCP and Remote Installation Service. The Remote Installation Server doubles as a proxy DHCP server to provide Boot Server and Filename instructions to clients. Remote Installation Service utilizes UDP port 4011 to provide clients the contents of each page the OS Chooser displays. Additionally, this service can provide drivers to clients; it is often used to provide the workstation's network card driver, which is required to launch the OS Chooser and mount the share where images are stored.Installation Using RIS
RIS can be used only for clean installations and cannot be used to upgrade a previous version of Windows. A RIPrep image can contain the operating system and applications. Computers that are connected to the same network as the server, and have been enabled, automatically start the RIS sequence.See also
- Windows Deployment ServicesWindows Deployment ServicesWindows Deployment Services is a technology from Microsoft for network-based installation of Windows operating systems. It is the successor to Remote Installation Services...
- Disk ImageDisk imageA disk image is a single file or storage device containing the complete contents and structure representing a data storage medium or device, such as a hard drive, tape drive, floppy disk, CD/DVD/BD, or USB flash drive, although an image of an optical disc may be referred to as an optical disc image...
- List of Microsoft Windows components
- Zero touch Windows deployment
External links
- Windows 2000 RIS Step-by-Step Guide
- PXE Booting Linux from Microsoft RIS - how to install Linux, MS-DOS, etc. using RIS
- RIS on Linux - all platforms - OpenSource RIS implementation
- RIS on Linux - how to install Windows using RIS on Linux
- RIS and Windows 98 Using Windows 2000 Remote Installation Service to Deploy Windows 98
- BINL protocol explained