WDS or RIS

[netadmin]

I am new to remote installation services, but fairly knowledgable on Windows Server 2003 and know all about group policy and active directory.

 

Which service, WDS or RIS would be easier for a beginner to setup?

[Quackers]

I still use both. Infact i cannot make do with just 1 anymore, due to a few issues.

 

I would get to grips with RIS first , then use WDS along side it.

[Ric_]

RIS doesn't really exist anymore. WDS replaces RIS and has three modes:

* Legacy mode (what we formally knew as RIS) - no good for Vista deployment

* Mixed mode (you can guess what this is)

* Native mode (the old automated install format of RIS is no more)

[logonui]

As our school hasnt gone over to Vista yet (and probably wont for a long time) i would recommend RIS. I have Dabbled in WDS and found it overly confusing, RIS i picked up straight away

[netadmin]

How long does it take an average image to be installed with WDS?

[Gatt]

Gonna use both until i can figure out how the hell to get WDS to do a clean deploy of WinXP - at present need to do that under RIS cos WDS is being a very naught service :|

 

WDS is fine for deploying ready made images if a bit more clunky than RIS was. At least the old problem of compatable NICs appaers to have gone!!

 

Only major annoyance with WDS is that you cant "on the fly" give a machine a name from within the Deploy screens - I need to create all the new PC's in AD as managed computer and enter their GUID's manually - fine for a few PCs - but PITA when its a roomful of them!!