In this guide, we will show you the steps to add boot and install images to WDS and configure Multicast transmission via the GUI and WDSUTIL. Windows Deployment System (WDS) is a service role that allows you to deploy the Windows operating system to a PXE-enabled client. See the following guide on how to set up a VM via PXE boot on a Generation 1 VM, and how to set up a VM via PXE boot on a Generation 2 VM. You can install a Windows operating system on a PXE-capable client without the need for physical media.
WDS allows an administrator to remotely deploy Windows Operating Systems to machines booting from a network adapter. After setting up the Windows Deployment System role and configuring WDS on the server, the next step is to add an image to the WDS.
There are two types of images that you need to add. There is an install.wim (the actual Windows installation files) and the other is the boot.wim used to boot the client device. For the differences between Capture image, Discover image, Install and Boot images (Windows PE).
Note: During the configuration of Windows Deployment Services (WDS), we did not add the images, this was left on purpose to this time. You can add Windows images by using the WDS MMC snap-in or by using WDSUTIL at a command prompt to load the Windows image.
Add the Boot.wim via the GUI
Before we proceed, please make sure that you already inserted the DVD and ISO format into your Windows Server as shown below.
Add Windows boot images using the GUI. Right-click on Boot Images as shown below
This will open the Add Image Wizard as shown below.
Click on Browse, then in Select Windows Image File box, double-click BD-ROm Drive (F:).
Double-click sources folder, and then double-click boot.wim as shown below
In the Add Image File wizard, verify the File Location which is F:\sources\boot.wim and then click Next.
On the Image Metadata box, click Next
On the Summary box. Click Next.
Upon clicking on Next, This will show the progress back of the boot.wim being added to WDS.
Upon clicking on Finish, the boot.wim can be seen added to the WDS as shown below
Also, see SizeTrend: A Fast Windows Disk Space Analyzer for Storage Analysis, Veeam ONE 13.1.0.7034 Upgrade: Complete Pre-flight and Step-by-Step Guide, and Upgrading Veeam Backup Enterprise Manager to v13.1 and Applying System Updates.
Add the Install Image
Here we will be adding the install.wim (image) into WDS, so in the WDS console, right-click Install Images and click Add Image Group. Enter the Group Name of your Choice
On the create an image group named. Enter the Group Name. For me, I will be entering Windows 10 as shown below.
This will take us to the Image File Window as shown below
On the Add Image File wizard, browse to F:\sources\install.wim then click Next.
Verify the file Location which is F:\sources\install.wim and then click Next.
On the Available Images box, select Windows 10 Edition that applies to you. Next, click Next to continue the installation process.
On the Summary windows, click Next and wait for a few minutes for the process to be completed.
Upon clicking on Next, This will show the progress back of the install.wim being added to WDS.
On the Task Progress box as shown below. Click Finish
As we can see below, the various install images we selected are now available.
For related WDS articles, see What is Windows Deployment Services: How to setup and install WDS. Also, see how to Configuration of Windows Deployment Services (WDS).
If you have not configured your WDS when you were configuring your server to respond to known clients only, follow these steps below. This means, I only want my TechDirectArchive Administrator to deploy this server. This has been configured previously but I just want to show it to you guys again.
Right-click on the
Access the WDS Server Properties
Click the PXE Response tab, and then select the Require administrator approval for unknown computers check box. On the PXE Response Delay, I choose 0 seconds, and then click OK.
To Add an authorisation method, you will have to use the “WDSUTIL” to achieve this. Enter the following command below in PowerShell with elevated privilege
Next, fire-up the WDS console, we need to configure the WDS server for multicast transmission.
Multi-casting enables you to deploy an image to a large number of client computers without consuming excessive network bandwidth.
Right-click Multicast Transmissions, and then click Create Multicast Transmission.
Enter the Transmission Name box. In the “Type a name for this transmission field”, type your desired name, and click Next.
On the Image Selection page. In the “select the image group that contains the image” window.
Select the image group you created above (install image). For me, it is Windows 10, and then click Next.
On the Multicast Type box, verify that Auto-Cast is selected, and then click Next then Click Finish.
The next screen shows the completion of the Multicast transmission as shown below. Click on Finish
As you can see below, the multicast transmission has been created.
Add Images via the wdsutil
On how to add Windows install and boot images using WDSUTIL. See a very good source on MDT as well.
wdsutil /add-imagegroup /imagegroup:Windows2019_x64
I hope you found this blog post on how to Add boot and install images to WDS and configure Multicast transmission via the GUI and WDSUTIL helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment session.
