MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing ...

3-26 Chapter 3 Deploying Windows XP Professional
4. The client begins the installation of Windows XP Professional from an image on the
RIS server. A RIS server can support many different disk images, and the user of the
client computer can choose the image they want to use to install Windows XP Professional.
You can also configure a RIS server so that installation choices are made
automatically when a client computer contacts the RIS server. The user of the client
computer sees a screen that indicates the operating system being installed, but is not
prompted to make any choices or provide any information. If only one image is
available on the RIS server, the user also does not get to make a choice.
5. Windows XP Professional is installed on the client computer. Depending on the
image and type of installation, the user might be or might not be prompted for
personal information during the installation.
RIS provides the following benefits:
■ It enables remote installation of Windows XP Professional.
■ It simplifies server image management by eliminating hardware-specific images
and by detecting Plug and Play hardware during setup.
■ It supports recovery of the operating system and computer in the event of computer
failure.
■ It retains security settings after restarting the destination computer.
■ It reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) by allowing either users or technical staff
to install the operating system on individual computers.
Installing and Configuring RIS
RIS is available only on computers running Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server
2003. The RIS server can be a domain controller or a member server. Table 3-2 lists the
network services required for RIS and their RIS function. These network services do
not have to be installed on the same computer as RIS, but they must be available somewhere
on the network.
Table 3-2 Network Services Requirements for RIS
Network Service RIS Function
DNS Service RIS relies on the Domain Name System (DNS) server for locating
both the directory service and client computer accounts.
DHCP service Client computers that can perform a network boot receive an Internet
Protocol (IP) address from the DHCP server.
Active Directory RIS relies on the Active Directory service in Windows XP Professional
for locating existing client computers as well as existing RIS
servers.