Windows Deployment Services

[Burnsy2023]

Right, my lovely RIS server has been updated with the latest service pack and now runs WDS in mixed mode.

I'm trying to deploy an image for a HP DC7700 and need the flexibility to be prompted for a machine name on setup. OSChooser in RIS allowed that under custom mode, but WDS either wants a list of machines whilst being prestaged or makes a psudo random name, neither of which are good enough solutions.

Any idea how to get WDS to prompt me for a machine name?

Burnsy

[Gatt]

On Your WDS Server, drill down to your server name (Windows Deployment Services -> Servers -> Your_server_name)

Right click and select properties

In the PXE Response Settings tab choose - respond to all (known and unknown) client computers and tickFor unknown clients, notify administrators and respond after approval

Now when an unknown client boots up and starts PXE, it will freeze, with a request ID

In WDS, open the Pending Devices folder, right click on the desired Request ID and choose name and aprrove - this will give the workstation a name and add it to AD

Word of warning - once approved the PXE boot process auto-resumes on th client PC..