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Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. What's New in Windows Deployment Services in Windows Server
In this articleApplies To: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 This topic describes the Windows Deployment Services (WDS) functionality that is new or changed in Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012. WDS is a server role that enables you to remotely deploy Windows operating systems. You can use it to set up new computers by using a network-based installation. This means that you do not have to install each operating system directly from a CD, USB drive, or DVD. To use WDS, you should have a working knowledge of common desktop deployment technologies and networking components, including Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Domain Name System (DNS), and Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). It is also helpful to understand the Preboot eXecution Environment (also known as Pre-Execution Environment). In this topic:
What’s new in Windows Deployment Services in Windows Server 2012 R2The following table compares the features and functionality included in each version of Windows Deployment Services, up to and including Windows Server 2012 R2:
What’s new in Windows Deployment Services in Windows Server 2012In Windows Server 2012, WDS offers enhanced support in the following areas:
ARM architecture and supportWDS can now deploy images to ARM clients, which is a CPU architecture that is specially engineered for low-cost, low-power consumption devices such as tablets, cell phones, GPS units, portable game consoles, network routers, and media players. What value does this change add? The ability to deploy images to ARM clients in addition to x86 and x64 architectures means a broader range of devices will be capable of running Windows. What works differently?
Note PXE boot is not currently supported by the network drivers on ARM clients. WDS infrastructure for custom deploymentsWhat value does this change add? New features that offer the ability to control all aspects of the deployment process. What works differently? The improvements include a variety of configuration options that allow administrators to more tightly control the deployment payload (such as images and driver packages) that is sent to client computers. These improvements include the following:
WDS management consoleWhat value does this change add? Extensions to the management console provide users with more convenient features to configure deployment options for their client computers. What works differently? The following set of features were added:
WDSclient.exeWhat value does this change add? WDSclient.exe is a new standalone client that can perform Dynamic Driver Provisioning (DDP) queries, direct VHD application, and metadata queries. What works differently? The WDSclient tool supports the above functionality for use in custom deployment scripts. Standalone server modeWhat value does this change add? Standalone server mode removes the dependency on Active Directory. What works differently? Starting in Windows Server 2012, Windows Deployment Services can be installed in a Standalone server mode. This removes the dependency on Active Directory. You still require DHCP, DNS and sufficient permissions to install and configure Windows Deployment Services. In this scenario, a local store is used to retain information about pre-staged devices. Default domain policiesWhat value does this change add? Default domain policy enhancements provide more control over provisioning drivers to client computers. What works differently? Default domain policy enhancements include:
Expected Deployment Results WizardWhat value does this change add? The Expected Deployment Results Wizard enables administrators to model the process of deploying a computer and seeing what boot images, install images, driver groups the computer will be offered from the server. What works differently? Expected Deployment Results Wizard is designed to help administrators efficiently test configuration changes to their servers and see how they impact deployments to all or specific (prestaged) computers. The tool is especially valuable when used to test some of the advanced configuration options afforded by the WDS infrastructure for custom deployments. Trivial File Transfer ProtocolWhat value does this change add? Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) enhancements result in improved performance. What works differently? TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) has been enhanced and delivers improved results in performance. You use the Windows Deployment Services Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server to download the files that are needed to do a network boot using the Pre-Boot Execution Environment (PXE). PXE technology is a standard created by Intel that establishes a common and consistent set of pre-boot services within the boot firmware. The end goal is to enable a client to do a network boot and receive a network boot program (NBP) from a network boot server. TFTP enhancements include:
TroubleshootingWhat value does this change add? Expanded tracing for troubleshooting issues with minimal impact to system performance. What works differently? Tracing has moved from plain text files to ETW logging, which enables efficient logging that works well even when diagnosing potential race conditions. Boot image and install image prioritiesWhat value does this change add? When you have multiple boot or install images available to client computers, clients will be presented with a boot and an install menu that displays the selection of images to choose from. What works differently? Windows Deployment Services now allows you to set priorities to control the order that both boot and install image listings are presented to clients. This ability is integrated directly into the Windows Deployment Services user interface. See also
Additional resourcesAdditional resourcesIn this articleWhat technology provided by Microsoft is used to perform a network based installation of Windows operating system?Windows Deployment Services is a server role that gives administrators the ability to deploy Windows operating systems remotely. WDS can be used for network-based installations to set up new computers so administrators do not have to directly install each operating system (OS).
What is WDS used for?Windows Deployment Services (WDS) enables you to deploy Windows operating systems over the network, which means that you do not have to install each operating system directly from a CD or DVD.
What technology is built in to the core of the Windows Server 2008 and expanded in Windows Server 2008 R2?Hyper-V. Hyper-V is a technology built in to the core of the operating system in Windows Server 2008 and expanded in Windows Server 2008 R2 that greatly enhances the performance and capabilities of server virtualization in a Windows environment.
What does Microsoft use to fight pirated copies of Windows?Microsoft's roll out of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), an application that sniffs out pirated copies of Windows, isn't winning the company a whole lot of love in China.
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