Windows Deployment Service | WDS

Описание: Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is a server role in Windows Server that allows you to install Windows operating systems over a network. Instead of using a physical USB drive or DVD for every computer, you "stream" the installation to multiple machines at once.

1. How the Process Works (PXE Boot)
WDS relies on a technology called PXE (Preboot Execution Environment). Here is the workflow:

Network Boot: You turn on a "bare-metal" computer (one with no OS) and select "Network Boot" in the BIOS/UEFI.

DHCP Request: The computer asks the network for an IP address. The DHCP server provides the IP and points the computer toward the WDS Server.

Boot Image: The computer downloads a small environment called Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment) from the WDS server.

Install Image: You log in, select the version of Windows you want, and the server pushes the full OS files to the computer's hard drive.

2. Key Components of WDS
To make WDS work, you need to manage different types of "images" (virtual copies of software):

Boot Image: The "mini-OS" that starts the computer and connects it to the server (e.g., boot.wim).

Install Image: The actual operating system you want to install (e.g., Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server).

Capture Image: A special boot image used to "suck up" a copy of a computer you've already perfectly configured (drivers, apps, and all) so you can clone it to others.

Discover Image: Used for older computers that don't support network booting; you put this on a USB to help the computer find the WDS server.

3. Requirements for Setup
If you are setting this up on a Windows Server (2019, 2022, etc.), you need:

Active Directory: The server usually needs to be part of a domain.

DHCP & DNS: To assign addresses and help the computer find the server.

NTFS Partition: A dedicated storage space on the server to hold the large OS images.