Deploying Applications and .Sdb Files During RIS Installations
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
Two methods are available for using a Remote Installation Services (RIS) server to deploy applications and .sdb files: the Risetup method, which uses Remote Installation Services setup (Risetup.exe), and the Riprep method, which uses Remote Installation Preparation Wizard (Riprep.exe). With either method, you can deploy an operating system, applications, and .sdb files across your network to destination computers throughout your organization.
Risetup In the Risetup method, a distribution share is used to deploy an operating system, applications, and .sdb files. The distribution share is similar in structure to the distribution share that is used during an unattended installation. You can add applications and .sdb files to the distribution share, and use answer files to install the applications and .sdb files.
Riprep In the Riprep method, disk images are used to deploy an operating system, applications, and .sdb files. The disk images are similar to the disk images that are used during an image-based installation with Sysprep, but instead of using Sysprep to prepare the master installation, you use Riprep. Riprep converts the master installation into a remote installation image that you can install on multiple destination computers.
Using the Riprep tool is the most common way to use RIS to deploy an operating system, applications, and .sdb files. It is faster than the Risetup method, and it requires less configuration after an image is copied to a destination computer.
Deploying Applications and .Sdb Files Using Riprep
To deploy applications and .sdb files using Riprep:
Install and configure the operating system and applications on your master installation.
Copy your .sdb files to your master installation. Usually, .sdb files are saved in the systemroot\AppPatch\Custom folder, but you can save the files in any folder.
Run Sdbinst.exe on your master installation to install and register your .sdb files.
Test the master installation to verify that the applications function properly and that the configuration is correct.
Run Remote Installation Services setup (Riprep.exe) on your master installation.
Riprep converts the master installation into a remote installation image that you can install on multiple destination computers. It also replicates the image to a RIS server, where the image is available for installation on remote-boot-enabled client computers.
Riprep configures various operating system settings on the master installation to ensure that every copy of the master installation’s disk image is unique when you install it on destination computers. For example, Riprep resets the security identifiers (SIDs). Riprep also configures the master installation so that every destination computer starts in Mini-Setup mode.
Use RIS to copy the disk image to your destination computers.
Before a RIS server can deploy an operating system image to a client computer, the client computer must initiate a remote network boot. When a client computer initiates a remote network boot, it is assigned a RIS server, which downloads the disk image to the client computer.
After the disk image is downloaded to the client computer and the client computer is restarted, Mini-Setup starts. Mini-Setup then uses Plug and Play to detect hardware differences between the master installation and destination computers. This enables you to use a single master installation to deploy an operating system, applications, and .sdb files to destination computers that have different hardware configurations.
This is only a summary of the tasks that are required in order to deploy installed and configured applications and .sdb files using RIS. For more information about designing and performing a RIS installation, see "Designing RIS Installations" in Automating and Customizing Installations of this kit.