Windows #002: Smart Setup Guide

Preparing for installation

Setting up PXE/RIS

Chapter 2

Setting up PXE/RIS

Remote Installation Services (RIS) enables you to create, maintain, and quickly install

identical OS and software configurations on multiple remote systems with a predefined

level of user interaction. RIS uses the Pre-boot eXecution Environment (PXE) to enable

client computers without an operating system to boot remotely to a RIS server. The RIS

server then installs the operating system over a TCP/IP network connection. You can

create different sets of RIS images for different groups of client computers. You can also

use Group Policy settings to limit the installation options that RIS presents to clients. In

addition, you can configure RIS for either interactive or fully-automated installations.

Set up RIS server

Setting up one or more RIS servers in your network requires careful planning, design,

and implementation. The following checklist provides an overview of the tasks involved

in setting up a RIS server.

• Ensure that both your RIS server and client (Integrity server) hardware meet the

Remote Installation Services (RIS) hardware requirements.

• Ensure that your network is based on TCP/IP, and that a Domain Name System

(DNS) server exists on the network. You do not need to use the Microsoft version of

DNS.

• Ensure that a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server exists on the

network. You do not need to use the Microsoft version of DHCP.

• Ensure that Active Directory exists on the network.

• Install the Remote Installation Services component on the RIS server.

• Run the Remote Installation Services Setup Wizard.

See Also Refer to the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference web site for detailed

descriptions of the concepts, tasks, best practices, and troubleshooting tips for setting up

a RIS server: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/proddoc/default.mspx.

Set up PXE on the HP Integrity server

PXE is built on common Internet protocols and services, including TCP/IP, DHCP, and

TFTP. PXE extensions to the DHCP protocol allow RIS servers to communicate with the

network-bootable HP Integrity servers.

To enable PXE on the HP Integrity server, you must specify the network interface card

(NIC) that it should use to communicate with the RIS server. When the HP Integrity

server boots from this NIC, it effectively boots from the remote RIS server. Working in

conjunction with the RIS server, PXE installs a new image of the Windows Server 2003

on the HP Integrity server.

To enable PXE on the HP Integrity server:

Step 1. From the EFI Boot Manager, select Boot Option Maintenance menu.