RIS (Remote Installation Service)

It is a feature of 2000&2003 using which we can deploy operating system remotely on to the client machines.

Requirements of RIS:
Server side:
AD, DNS, A static IP, DHCP, RIS, 2GB of free space with NTFS partition

Client side Requirements:
Client machine
PXE enabled NIC (Pre Boot execution Environment) or remote boot floppy.

Installing RIS service:

On DC
Start
Settings - control panel
Add/remove - add/remove windows programs
Check the box RIS
Insert2003 OS CD- next
Restart

Once the RIS server is ready it depends on the three RIS services for accomplishing remote installation

Remote installation process:
Client machine with pxe enable ROM when booted it will load an initial program to find an OS from RIS server that program is called ‘start ROM’. When it is doing so it (client) broadcasts network broadcast, MAC address on the network.

DHCP Server:
The DHCP server on listening t the request from the client, assigns an IP along with the DNS address.

DNS Server:
It provides the DC’s information so that the client can contact DC
With the help of MSDCS record

AD: RIS is integrated with AD and AD maintains complete information about RIS server and available types of images and directs the request made by the client to the RIS server
RIS server: starts the services BINL, TFTPD, SIS. With the help of these services can perform remote installation of OS on to the requested client.

RIS services:

1. BINL: or RIS: (Boot Information Negotiation Layer): Responsible for overall management of RIS. It is a service invokes TFTPD and SIS.

2. TFTPD: (Trivial File Transfer Protocol Demon): Responsible for downloading the O.S. and related files only onto the client machine for remote installation

3. SIS (Single Instance Services): It is responsible for efficient management of Hard Disk space. Whenever there is a repetition of file copying occurs, it omits copying file, instead it creates a pointer and this pointer will be pointing to the actual files.

Creating a CD image for remote installation: ex. 2003

On DC
Or RIS server
Start – r – Risetup – next
Check the box respond to the clients
Provide CD ROM drive path
Folder name – next
Friendly description name ex: CD image
Next – finish

Implementing RIS:

On RIS server
Install DHCP server
Authorize it
Create a scope

Verifying RIS server before performing RIS installation

On RIS server
Open ADUCDomain controllers
Right side pane- double click on the server
Remote install - verify server-Done.

Performing remote install on client:
On the client machine
Boot from pxe enabled NIC or remote bootable floppy.
Press F12 key when the system prompts and installation proceeds.
Note: If don’t see “press F12 for booting from n/w” you have to restart the services before performing RIS installation:
Start – Admin tools – services
Restart services following
RIS, DHCP, DNS, netlogon, remote installation, TFTPD, single instance store

On the client machine
Insert COMBO CD
Press F12 when it prompts

Creating a remote boot floppy requires 1.44MB floppy:

On RIS server
Open the RIS folder from remote install\admin\i386
Insert floppy and double click Rbfg.exe

Creating Additional images:

Open ADUCDC properties (right side ex: sys1)
Remote install
Advance settings
Images – add – insert CD

Editing an answer file:

On RIS server
Open the folder remote install\setup\English\images\windows\i386\templates
Double click ristndrd.sif
Do whatever modifications you want
Ex: set it as, Use whole disk =no
Save – close.

RIPREP image:
It is a type of images which includes OS+ applications, settings, security and etc..
Useful when we want to perform remote installation of OS +applications.
To achieve this we have to install OS+ applications +settings & security on one of the client machines & keep it read

Performing riprep image

On the client machines, which are ready with applications and settings
Start – run - \\ris server name; ex; \\sys1
Double click reminst\admin\i386
Double click riprep
Next
Server name
Next
Folder name
Ex: client image
Friendly description ex; sales dept.
Next – answer further questions

NOTE: on completion of this, the client will get restarted and starts a mini windows setup where you’ll have to provide the company name, CD key and so on. Once it is over the riprep image is ready.