Remote Installation Services

RIS provides software services that allow an administrator to set up new clients remotely, without having to visit each client.

There are several administrative options that you can control to configure how the RIS server services clients. You can accept the default configuration settings and begin offering users operating system installation images. You can also customize the settings to define your automatic computer naming policy, to define the Active Directory container in which computer accounts are created, and to define the operating system images to which users have access.

RIS servers can be set to respond only to service requests from clients that have already had their computer account objects created in Active Directory for a forest, or have been prestaged in Active Directory. RIS technology allows the coexistence of RIS servers from multiple vendors on the same physical network. When set to ignore boot requests from unknown clients, RIS servers can be introduced into a network without interfering with pre-existing RIS servers that use the same remote boot protocols.

Important

The entire ROM sequence is not secure with packet type encryption, client, or server spoofing, or wire sniffer–based mechanisms. Use caution when using RIS on your corporate network. Ensure that you only allow authorized RIS servers on your network and that the number of administrators allowed to install or configure RIS servers is controlled.