Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is a Microsoft server technology network-based installation of Windows operating systems. It is the successor to Remote Installation Services (RIS).
It also supports other operating systems because unlike its predecessor RIS, which was a method of automating the installation process, WDS uses disk imaging, in particular, the Windows Imaging Format (WIM).
WDS is included as a Server Role on Windows Server 2016, Installation time takes 5 minutes the most and there are no prerequisites except the Windows Server hardware requirements.
Install WDS Role
To complete this article successfully, you will need the following:
- Windows 10 ISO Image
- DHCP Server on the same network as the WDS Server
- Domain Admin account for the Installation and booting machines to WDS
To Install WDS on Windows Server 2016, Start Server Manager and Select Windows Deployment Service
You could also use Microsoft PowerShell to Install WDS using the one liner
add-WindowsFeature wds,wds-deployment, wds-transport, wds-adminpack
Add Windows 10 image
Open the WDS and click on “Install Images” ⇾ Add Install Image
Windows Deployment Services.
Browse to the Windows 10 ISO Image and select the “boot.wim” file from the D:\sources folder
Add Image Wizard.
Next, We will add the Windows 10 Installation image from the Window 10 ISO image
Right click on “Install Images” and click on add install image
Select “Install.wim” from the D:\Sources folder on the ISO Image
Click on Next
You will see it under “Install Images”
Install Windows 10 from the network
To Install the image on a Virtual machine or physical computer boot the computer from the network (F12) follow the prompt
In the Select, Operating System page select Windows 10 and click Next
WDS will Install Windows 10 without any prompt and will join it to the domain
