RIS

T180985 · 2 May 2006 at 15:33

Im trying to setup a RIS server for my office and we have created the image etc but are having problems with the unattended installation part. Basically im under the impression that a Answere file is unique for a individual pc so bascally i need a file or a database that RIS can go off to when installing windows on a desktop pc and ask for a pc name and the network settings etc anyone know how to go about this? i dont want to have to make a new disk for every machine and it would be nice to manage everything from one pc

Thanks

oddjob62 · 2 May 2006 at 23:43

What do you need to be different on each PC?

T180985 · 3 May 2006 at 11:21

PC name and each PC must have a static IP

Lummux · 3 May 2006 at 12:57

Use dhcp with reserved addresses for the static IP's, then presuming your using an active directory the machine name will remain the same even afer a RIS install if it is already in the AD (i assume ad does this by MAC address).

T180985 · 3 May 2006 at 13:03

ok so add the computer to AD and tell it which MAC address it will be using then AD will auto assign it the computer name? Then i can assign IP's to MAC addresses on our firewall

Lummux · 3 May 2006 at 14:08

no, is the computer already in the computers folder in ad?

If so they always keep the same name that is already set there. I think the ris installer pompts you on in stall to say some thing like "there is already an account for this computer in the ad would you like to use it" say yes and the name holds.
As for DHCP i would have assumed you were using the ad dhcp server if you had ad. either way there will be a section in the dhcp server called some thing like "reserved addresses". here you give it the MAC address and it will always get the same IP.

T180985 · 3 May 2006 at 14:18

sorry im very new to AD and this is a brand new install of AD so the pc isnt already in there and yes you are right about the DCHP being on the server itself. So as the pc isnt already in the computers section can i just add a pc, tell it what name it should have and when i install via RIS when the pc connects to the domain AD will give it the correct name?

Lummux · 3 May 2006 at 14:37

no probs, its taken me a while to get to grips with it and i`m not half way there yet!

Yeah basically join the pc to the domain and then it will be in the computers folder. then you can have some real fun with it, group policies, wsus, etc....

T180985 · 3 May 2006 at 14:44

ok so basically let the computer install using the RIS server then when it joins the domain i should see it in AD where i can assign it a computer name?

oddjob62 · 3 May 2006 at 15:48

T180985 said:
ok so basically let the computer install using the RIS server then when it joins the domain i should see it in AD where i can assign it a computer name?

Open up AD users and computers
Browse to the RIS server account - Right Click - Properties
Click on Remote Install
Advanced Settings
There you can set up a naming scheme for computers set up on the RIS server.

T180985 · 3 May 2006 at 16:13

ok thanks! i just found it but unfortuantly it doesnt look like i can do what i want to as i would need to use one of their predefined naming schemes. We want to name all our PCs after Citys (not my idea but that what were doing) any thoughts on how to go about doing this or will i have to just use the options on there

oddjob62 · 3 May 2006 at 16:40

You can set up new computer accounts and assign them names, but you will ahve to type in the GUID in order for RIS to know which PCs to attach to which account. You can usually find the GUID in the bios
looks like this:

{4C574344-0030-4B10-5678-C7C04ED314A}

T180985 · 3 May 2006 at 16:49

ohhhhhhh i see now! just seen the thing i need to do lol Thanks for all your help everyone!!!!!

just got to try find all these GUIDs lol

Sone · 3 May 2006 at 17:00

T180985 said:
ohhhhhhh i see now! just seen the thing i need to do lol Thanks for all your help everyone!!!!! just got to try find all these GUIDs lol

boot into the first ris setup screen and i think it displays the GUID somewhere (been a while since i sued ris, well worth persavering with!)

T180985 · 3 May 2006 at 17:10

ok found it thanks

didnt work at first so i added a few 000 in front and its worked fine

Thanks again for alol your help!

T180985 · 4 May 2006 at 11:23

ok im onto the next problem!

For PCs already displayed in active directory they dont have the Remote Install tab in their properties and i dont see anyway of setting them to be a managed PC any idea how to go about doing this?

Lummux · 4 May 2006 at 12:44

I`ve never come accross a way to do that, i think the tab only appears when a machine has been installed by the ris server.

T180985 · 4 May 2006 at 12:47

you also get the tab if you manually add the Computer to active directory

dont want to have to go trough and add every single pc again

oddjob62 · 4 May 2006 at 15:46

T180985 said:
ok im onto the next problem!

For PCs already displayed in active directory they dont have the Remote Install tab in their properties and i dont see anyway of setting them to be a managed PC any idea how to go about doing this?

The account should already be attached by it's SID. If you start RIS on that PC it should pick up the same name it had before. Not 100% sure.... lets say 80%.

Remote Install tab will only be on the RIS server.

T180985 · 4 May 2006 at 15:56

But the RIS tab is also displayed on the AD server but only if i manually add the pc or if i have previously installed the PC by RIS :confused:

Anyway basically....

I have got my domain controller that works fine and my RI Server which also runs fine. I managed to get a PC to install using the image from the RI Server But i cant see to get it to use the Answere file i created in the setup manager! am i supposed to put the file anywhere perticular or on a floppy disk?