Remote Installation Service (RIS) in Windows Server 2003

My prediction is that RIS will have rosy future.  Like its rival Ghost, RIS installs images of XP Professional.  The 'killer' feature of RIS is that right from moment of conceptions, before they are even born; the XP machines remain under the control of Group Policies.

Topics for RIS

• Principle behind RIS
• RIS Pre-requisites and Dependencies
• Overview of a RIS Setup
• Limitations of RIS
• Summary and Recommendations

• Introduction to RIS

  Installing RIS will be difficult, therefore, if you are only concerned with speed and easy of installation, stay with Ghost.  I will go further and say that RIS is by far the most difficult service in Windows Server 2003's Add or Remove Programs.  If you are up for a satisfying challenge, I will guide you through installing and configuring Microsoft's RIS.

  Principle behind RIS

  RIS is a modern alternative to using imaging software like 'Ghost'.  What you do is create an image of the XP Professional on the RIS Windows 2003 Server.  Then you boot a brand new machine and press F12, the clever part is that the machine's PXE* network card finds DHCP.   What happens next is that Active Directory, DHCP and RIS work together and produce a menu at the client, at this point you select the desired image and then the installation completes automatically.

  The way RIS deploys its images reminds me of SysPrep.  In particular, the way that both technologies use .sif files to hold the setup information.  As we will, RIS is more complex, than SysPrep, but RIS provides far more control of the final XP Professional installation.

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  RIS is a very difficult topic, as an MCT trainer, I can thoroughly recommend TrainSignal because they provide practical hands on training.  In particular, I like the way TrainSignal cover all learning methods, instructor lead, video and of course text material.  You can either take one module, for example DNS or go for a combination of modules.  Learn more about RIS 2003 here

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  RIS Pre-requisites and Dependencies

  Active Directory in general and DNS in particular.

  DHCP - to enable the PXE network cards to find the RIS Server.

  2GB (+) NTFS partition.  Store the image away from the system files.

  Virgin client machines with PXE network cards.

  Overview of a RIS Setup
  (Detailed RIS Setup)

  One reason that so many people give up with Windows Server 2003's RIS is that there are so many steps to a successful setup.  Moreover some of the configuration tabs are hidden away.  Paradoxically, once you realize that an installation is difficult it becomes easy, my explanation for this paradox is that you take more time and care when the project is challenging.

• Logon to the Windows 2003 Server.
• Install the RIS Service through the Add or Remove Programs, then reboot.
• Go back to the Add or Remove Programs and complete part two of the install where you will be asked for the XP CD and a 2GB NTFS partition to install the 'vanilla' image.
• To add more images, create the perfect XP Client, then run RiPrep on the client, I repeat, on the client not the RIS Server.  RiPrep will copy another, more complete image of this client to the RIS server.
• A final point, to configure RIS on the server, you need to select the computer object in Active Directory User and Computers, properties, then select the Remote Installation tab.
• RIS servers, like DHCP, have to by Authorized before they start servicing clients.
• My advice is to investigate Group Policies for RIS, decide on whether to allow the installer to choose setup options, or whether to make the setup silent with no screens and no choices.

* PXE - Pre execution boot.  A network card that boot and then request an IP address from a DHCP server.

See here for a step-by-step RIS setup guide

Limitations of RIS

RIS delivers only clean installs of XP Professional, you cannot use this technology to upgrade clients such as Windows 98 to XP.  While you cannot use RIS to install domain controllers, you can have Windows Server 2003 stand alone servers which can then join the domain and promoted to domain controllers.  Wireless networks do not support PXE network cards, so you cannot use the wireless medium to install XP Professional via RIS.

How to Install Remote Installation Service (RIS)

Roll out your desktops the modern RIS way. Choose Windows Server 2003's RIS rather than Ghost.  This page will show you how to install and configure Microsoft's RIS.  My goal is to help you design and plan a small or medium sized roll-out of XP Professional using RIS.

Introduction to RIS

There are many ways to install XP clients.  Whilst 'Ghost' imaging software is popular, I urge you to try RIS.  Take advantage of Microsoft's intellimirror technology which automatically repairs client installations.  RIS links with OUs and Group Policies as a result you can control the XP desktop from the outset.

Topics for Installing RIS

• Pre-requisites and Dependencies
• Phase 1 - Add or Remove Programs
• Phase 2 - Wizard to Copy the XP Image
• Phase 3 - Active Directory Users and Computers
• Summary of Installing RIS

How to Install RIS (Remote Installation Service)

Pre-requisites and Dependencies

The RIS Server can be a Member Server, in fact it's probably BETTER to offer RIS from a Member Server than a Domain Controller.

DHCP for the initial PXE (means Pre eXEecution, but is pronounced 'Pixie) boot.  Remember to Authorize the Server in Active Directory.

Active Directory (DNS).  A simple practicality, you need a domain controller available when you install RIS.

Another 2GB NTFS partition. There will be a problem if you only have one partition, because the RIS images cannot be on the System Partition.  The answer is to create a large partition for all the XP images.

Once a RIS failed to install on a server with a DHCP address and with the wrong DNS server.  From a troubleshooting point of view, I foolishly changed both factors at once, so I was never sure whether it was the dynamic IP or the incorrect DNS that caused the problem.

RIS is a very difficult topic, as an MCT trainer, I can thoroughly recommend TrainSignal because they provide practical hands on training.  In particular, I like the way TrainSignal cover all learning methods, instructor lead, video and of course text material.  You can either take one module, for example DNS or go for a combination of modules.  Learn more about RIS 2003 here

Detailed Step-by-Step RIS Setup

Phase 1 - Add or Remove Programs

Think of installing the actual RIS Service as a two stage process.  Begin just as you install WINS or Certificate or any other service.  Navigate to  Add or Remove Programs, Windows Components, select Remote Installation Services.

Unlike any another service that I know, there is more work to do after the Add or Remove programs session completes.  After you reboot the Windows 2003 Server, seek out the Administrative Tools menu, and Remote Installation Services Setup. The RIS wizard is one of Microsoft's best; it guides you through selecting the partition, and the name for the first XP Professional image.

Note: The above method works for Windows Server 2003, but on Windows 2000, return to the Add or Remove programs and see the newly added item, which leads you through to phase 2.  Beware this is a truly bizarre experience and many give up at this point.

Phase 2 - Wizard to Copy the XP Image

It sounds silly now, but the first time the RIS wizard prompted me for the CD, I put in the Windows Server 2003 CD.  Wrong.  I should have put the XP Professional CD in the caddy, clearly the wizard wants to create the client image.  (It did not need any server files.)  It takes a fair time to copy the image into your NTFS partition.  Here is a screen shot taken at the copying stage.

Phase 3 - Active Directory Users and Computers

Another surprise, most of the rest of your RIS configuration is at the Computer object in Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC).  However, if you think about what's going to happen, it makes sense to configure RIS in Active Directory. 

In the ADUC interface, navigate to the Computers container, or the Domain Controllers if you installed RIS on a DC.  The initial surprise is that the Computer Object of the machine where you just installed RIS has extra Tab called, Remote Install.  See diagram below.

Note that the Respond to client computers requesting service is not checked by default.  As an aside, my view is that finding this check box is your passing out test.  Officially, the reason its unchecked is that Microsoft don't want rogue laptops picking up images before you are ready.

What Next?

So, you have successfully installed the Service, What next?

• Authorize RIS / DHCP
• More Configuration at the Remote Install Tab.  Including checking Respond to client computers requesting service.
• Collect more RIS Images
• Get ready at the client to install the actual XP Professional Client using RIS

Summary of Installing RIS

RIS is one of the most difficult Services to installing RIS.  Let us be realistic, either you need a detailed plan, or you will need at least 3 attempts if you follow your nose and employ trial and error.

Thanks to http://computerperformance.co.uk/w2k3/services/ris_install.htm#