Remote Installation Services

This is the tool that tackles one of the biggest computer upgrade problems: how to get a computer with no operating system connected to the network so that a network-based installation program can run?

Server 2003 RIS permits to deploy images of Windows 2000 Server and Professional, XP Home and Professional, or Server 2003 to blank computers across the network. The only condition is that the network card in the client computer must be capable of supporting the PXE 0.99C or later standard.

Installing RIS requires a hard drive partition different to the partition where the winnt folder is located, an Active Directory, a DCHP server and a DNS server for it to work.

A RIS server saves hours of configuration when adding or rebuilding network servers and client computers. When fast expansion of the network is required, it is an indispensable tool.

In future pages we will explain how to install RIS in a server.