Windows Server 2003 includes a utility called Remote Installation Services (RIS). This is probably the most powerful tool for deploying operating systems because of its flexibility, the operating systems it supports, and its overall ease of use.

The version of RIS that ship with Windows Server 2003 can be used to deploy any of the following operating:

• Windows Server 2003 (all versions)

• Windows XP
• Windows 2000 Server (all versions)
• Windows 2000 Professional

The actual process for installing RIS on Windows Server 2003 is outlined below:

1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, and click Add/Remove Programs.

2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components. From the list of available components select Remote Installation Services.
3. After the service has been installed, open the run command and type RISetup.exe. This launches the Remote Installation Services Setup Wizard. Click Next.
4. Type in the path to where the RIS server will store the images. Remember this must be an NTFS volume. Click Next.
5. Choose how the RIS server will respond to clients. Click Next.
6. Specify the location of the installation files for the operating system. This maybe the path to your CD-ROM drive or a network location. Click Next.
7. Type in a name for the folder that will host the image of the operating system. Click Next.
8. Type in a friendly description and help text. This information is by clients used to identify images. Click Next. Click Finish.
9. Authorize the server in Active Directory by running the RISetup -check command.