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Remote Installation Services

This article discusses the benefits and features of Remote Installation Services (RIS) for remote system installation and imaging. It covers the use of PXE servers, integration with Active Directory, image management, and driver addition.

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Remote Installation Services

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  1. Remote Installation Services Michel Jouvin LAL / IN2P3 Jouvin@lal.in2p3.fr W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  2. What is RIS • MS implementation of a PXE server to allow system installation through the net • Advantage over older technologies • No need for a specific floppy : PXE client available in modern BIOS • Integration with AD allows control on who can install what on a specific machine • Based on imaging technologies • Several preconfigured images can coexist on the server W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  3. RIS Server… • Preferrably a DC but not mandatory • If not a DC, DHCP server must be registered (authorized) • RIS Management done in RIS server properties in ‘ActiveDirectory Users and Computers’ tool • DHCP • Address and bootfile discovered through DHCP • Can be provided by different servers (normally) • Bootfile = Client Installation Wizzard (OS chooser) • Allow to restrict access to known (pre-staged) clients W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  4. … RIS Server • BINL : Bind Information Negociation Layer • TFTP server • Management of images • Discovery of NIC driver during Setup startup • AD interaction : computer account creation • Possible generation of computer names based on customizable template W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  5. RIS Client • BIOS based PXE client • No configuration needed – Generally through F12 • Often buggy : BIOS upgrade needed (Dell Latitude) • Generally requires address and bootfile in the same DHCP transaction (one DHCP server for both) • Floppy based PXE client • Generic but limited list of supported (PCI only) NIC • No miniPCI support : don’t work with laptops • Generated with Rbfg.exe in REMINST\Admin\I386 • Accept address and bootfile from different DHCP servers • GUID based on MAC address (NIC) instead of computer W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  6. Client Installation Wizzard… • File booted through PXE (OS Chooser) • Authenticate the person doing the install • Logged in event viewer • Ask configuration parameters (computer name…) • Select image to install • Launch installation (flat or Riprep images) • Default CIW require F12 • REMINST\OSChooser\I386\Startrom.exe • Use (rename) startrom.n12 to suppress F12 W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  7. … Client Installation Wizzard • Form based interface • Forms described in OSCML (HTML 2.0) • Forms files in REMINST\OSChooser • Easy to customize • Parameters passed to installer through variables • Preconfigured set of parameters attached to each images • several per image • similar to unattended.txt options W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  8. Images • Location • Both under \REMINST\Setup\language • One directory per image • Image directory name can be changed • Enumeration redone each time by OS Chooser • 2 types of system image • Flat image : CD like distribution • Riprep image : copy of an installed and configured system (with applications) W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  9. Flat Image • Can install on every computer • Run standard setup (pretty long) • Added to RIS through RIS management tool • Can be done manually by copying the CD and building the Template subdirectory • Flat image with the same system version/SP must exist for a Riprep image installation to start • Don’t integrate SP if used by Riprep image • Generally restricted to administrators W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  10. Riprep Images • Differences from flat images • Includes deployment of applications • Deployment much faster than flat image (#20mn) • Target computer must have the same HAL type • Built with Riprep.exe (similar to Sysprep) • Install and configure a system with application • Run Riprep from \\RIS_Server\REMINST\Admin\I386 • Riprep uses sysprep.inf as input • Sysprep.inf (in \Sysprep folder) allows a subset of SIF options • Riprep reset registry on the Riprep computer W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  11. Image Management • SIF files • Describe installation options for an image • Domain to join, computer name, drivers path… • Reside in I386\Template subdirectory of the image • File organised in section (like an INI file) • Several set of options per image • Name presented to the user is defined in OSChooser section • SIF ACLs • SIF access done with the user authenticated by CIW • ACLs can be placed on SIF files or Template subdir to restrict access to image (template) to some users W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  12. Driver Addition (Flat Image) • Create under I386 $OEM$\$1 subtree • Create a subdirectory/subtree where to place drivers • Ex: Driver, or Driver\NIC, Driver\Video… • Copy the drivers in the appropriate location • In SIF file [unattended] section, add : OEMPreinstall = yes OemPnpDriversPath = DriverPath • DriverPath is a semi-colon separated list • Drivers must reside in the listed directories, not subdirectories W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  13. Driver Addition (Riprep Image) • Must be done before running Riprep • Not necessary if flat image used is already configured • On the reference computer, create a directory/tree • Put the drivers in the appropriate location • In Sysprep.inf file [unattended] section, add : OemPnpDriversPath = DriverPath • Before running Riprep, be sure to deinstall all unknown devices (from Device Manager) W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  14. Driver Addition (Miscellanous) • New driver can be added to an existing images by copying them in the appropriate location • No need to rebuild the image • If the NIC used by RIS client is not supported by standard drivers, the driver (and .INF) must also be added to the flat image I386 directory • Require restart of binlsvc service • Reconstruct PNF file corresponding to the INF file (long) • Easier to add new driver than replace… W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  15. Server Troubleshooting • Standard RIS logs in event viewer (DHCP and BINL) : not very detailed/helpful • Detailed BINL logs • Define (DWORD) value Debug to 1 in HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Binlsvc\Parameters • Logs are in %SYSTEMROOT%\Debug\binsvc.log • Need to be copied (locked) and opened with Wordpad W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  16. Installation Troubleshooting • GUI Setup part • Log in setupapi.log in %SYSTEMROOT% • Default log level is non verbose • Define (DWORD) value LogLevel to xFFFF in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup • For flat images, must be done by adding the value to hivesft.inf • For Riprep images, must be set on the computer used to build the image W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  17. Current Problems/Restrictions • New NIC integration • Difficult if older driver version exists (Intel Pro 100) • SP3 required on server but not enough… • CIW assumes QWERTY • DCHP restriction for BIOS based clients • Tested with Intel and 3COM agents • Drivers path limited to 10 elements in SIF files • Only one sytem disk (with one partition) • Target computer must have a disk equal or greater to source computer W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

  18. Documentation on RIS • W2000 Server Deployment White Papers • W2000 Server Deployment Planning guide – Ch. 8 • Remote Operation System Installation • Technical Guide to Remote Installation Services • Step by Step guide to Remote OS Installation • Lot of KB articles • Mainly for toubleshooting installation start problems • Keywords : RIS or PXE • Machine or NIC vendors support sites • Ex : Intel W2K RIS - HEPix Fall 2002

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