Windows Server Essentials - Deploying Windows installs

Mason64 · 12 Nov 2015 at 21:22

Hi

I run a small server in work and i wanted to know if its possible to use Windows server essentials as a server to deploy installs. For example if i have 20 pc's i need to prep can i just PXE boot them all and install windows and the drivers and so on.

A link to somewhere on how this works would be great

thanks in advance

leigh_boy · 12 Nov 2015 at 21:41

what you will need is:
dhcp server and option 60 enabled
windows deployment server (optional install) not sure on essentials

optional MDT 2013 - allows you to create an image

Mason64 · 12 Nov 2015 at 23:10

cheers for the help, i will look in to this tomorrow, Does the server have to do DHCP or can i let the router handle that?

PiKe · 12 Nov 2015 at 23:25

We use Serva64 and PXE boot in to Macrium Reflect to deploy a sysprepped image on to new machines.

leigh_boy · 13 Nov 2015 at 08:04

Mason64 said:
cheers for the help, i will look in to this tomorrow, Does the server have to do DHCP or can i let the router handle that?

server, unless you router allows you to use options such as a cisco router

Saundie · 16 Nov 2015 at 21:07

leigh_boy said:
optional MDT 2013 - allows you to create an image

I'd definitely recommend going down the MDT route - it makes life so much easier to maintain images than trying to do it manually, especially compared to archaic tools like Ghost/Acronis. There's a bit of a learning curve to it, but once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why you used any other method.