Adding a Boot Image to the WDS Server in Windows Server 2008

After the WDS (Windows Deployment Services) server is configured as desired, it is time to add the initial boot image to the server. When a system is booted using PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) boot and connects to a WDS server, a boot image is used to prepare the client system to install a Windows image. The boot image includes the WDS client and Windows PE. Legacy imaging systems utilized a flavour of DOS and DOS-based network drivers to boot a system and connect it to the imaging server. With the Windows Server 2008 default boot image, boot.wim, the Windows PE contains an extensive list of network drivers and most systems can be booted to WDS and successfully install an image. Boot images are also used to create capture images and discover images.

To add a boot image to the WDS server, follow the below steps:

1. Log on to the Windows Server 2008 system that has the WDS role installed with an account with local administrator and domain administrator rights.

2. Click on Start and then All Programs and then Administrative Tools and then select Windows Deployment Services.

3. When the Windows Deployment Services console opens, if the local server is not listed under the Servers node, it must be added by right-clicking on Servers in the tree pane and selecting Add Server. Specify the local server and click OK to add it to the console.

4. In the tree pane, select and expand the WDS server.

5. Right-click the Boot Images node and select Add Boot Image.

6. When the Add Image Wizard opens, the first page prompts for the location of the boot image file. If the Windows Server 2008 installation media is not in the WDS server’s local CD/DVD drive, locate it on the network.

7. Click the Browse button to locate the Windows installation media on the server or on the network. After the media is located, open the Sources folder on the root of the Windows Server 2008 installation media, select the boot.wim file, and click Open to add it.

8. Back in the Add Image Wizard window, if the boot image path and file are listed, click Next to continue.

9. On the Image Metadata page, either accept the default boot image name and description or type in a new one, and click Next to continue.

10. Then review the summary page and click Next to continue. This starts the process of adding the boot image to the WDS server.

11. After the process completes, click Finish on the Task Progress page to close the wizard.

12. Back in the Windows Deployment Services console, select the Boot Images node in the tree pane and in the tasks pane verify that the new boot image has been added.

13. Close the Windows Deployment Services console and log off of the server.