ROUGH server 2012 guide in a nutshell to PXE/network boot using router DHCP/DNS only : CEETech (IT)

Guide by Dylan Hunt

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1) Before you start, get your computer prepped:

Ensure you have Windows Server 2012 x64 with preferably fast, cat6 ethernet cable and a 1gb switch; lots of RAM and a beefy CPU
Install Windows updates, drivers, updates, patches
Install Google Chrome (trust me, "secure" IE is unusable) for usable browsing
Install Notepad++ for editing
Partition your drive so you have ~50GB and call it "STORAGE" to store your ISO's etc later
Keep your IP address DYNAMIC for now to prevent headaches (can make it static later)

2) Add roles to server

.NET 4.x
Active Directory (to setup WDS and pre-configure deployments)
WDS (for PXE/image deployment); your source for everything deployment via PXE
Download AIK (windows automated installation kit) to make things auto later
Install MDT (microsoft deployment toolkit) to prep golden images and automate the "gather" tasks

Note: Normally every guide on the internet will tell you to get a DHCP server and run a DNS server, but that is absolutely unnecessary, assuming you have a smart router. Perhaps in huge corporate environments this may be smart. For the sake of simplicity, no DHCP/DNS

3) Configure roles

Start menu >> active directory (or can open it from local console to configure)
Mostly default >> Create new forest >> name it whatever.whatever (mine is ceetech.server) >> defaults
Now you want to right click USERS >> new USER >> give it a name and fill out only the required fields. For example, lab1, lab2, lab3, etc. Then find the user you just made >> right click >> set password. In the future, your login name will be username@yourserver.yourserver2ndpart .. example .. lab1@ceetech.server ; remember this for later.

Start menu >> WDS (or can open it from local console to configure)
Right click your server >> properties >> since you don't have a dhcp server, go to the far right tab (called.. tftp? or dns?) and uncheck both the items at the bottom. This will tell the computers to look for an IP elsewhere (your router)
Right click boot image >> add boot image >> call it anything; just a group name (win7x64?) >> insert your win7 disk >> let it automatically find it .. or manually add. Just search for "BOOT.WIM"
Right click install image >> add install image >> Let it automatically find via Win7 CD or search an ISO for "INSTALL.WIM"
Done! Optionally you can

Go to "network" and/or "boot" section
Look for anything related to "network boot: ON" ensure it's on. Also PCI_BEV--looks funny, but this is often a name for a network card. Make sure this is all enabled.
While you're at it, go to "power" section and turn on "wake on LAN" or "power by LAN" so you can turn your PC on via your server later
Now go to "Startup/Boot Order" >> make your PCI_BEV--xx (or whatever your network card is called) to the TOP! Often you'll see 2. Try one, then the other. Often you'll see the network cards under "EXCLUDE" section ... be sure it's not in there and at the top of the list.
Now reset PC >> it'll try to find the server. It will also display a few ID's, #'s, and/or MAC address. Write this down. MAC address can also usually be found in BIOS and is easiest to jot down. This is used later for unattend files / automating processes / customizing certain PC's:
(Optional: This is self-explanatory if you go to WDS >> "pre-configured" >> right click >> new pre-configured PC" .. this pre-sets up a computer with automated options)
Your PC will find the server (if not, make sure it's on same wired network, same network, same subnet (192.168.xx.xx) bold and underlined must match the server's IP. The last set of digits can be any #'s within the normal range
You will press F8 usually to enter PXE boot if it detects server
From there, it'll give options to boot and it's like a normal installation.

So 1) Install fresh windows (doesn't have to be.. it's a copy that you're making; a clone) 2) Create a capture image ("Golden Image") to copy to other PC's by doing this:

CLIENT (not server) then loads windows the way you like it; install the software you want; set your settings like default browser, home page, install Chrome or anything you want. Tt's going to make a clone and send it to the network.
(OPTIONAL: Here you can play with WDT for automated options to CAPTURE .. you can figure this out yourself later)
Once ready, in windows on Client, Go to c:\windows\system32\sysprep and open sysprep.exe as admin.
Click OOBE = out of box experience. This is what you want. BE SURE TO CHECK GENERALIZE!! This will make this image generic to use on other PC's! It will wipe computer name, remove auto activation of windows/office.
Shut down your PC and DO ***NOT*** boot into windows again! Instead, boot to PXE and use your new CAPTURE IMAGE boot option (instead of install windows). This will either send the image to server and/or store it locally. Add this to your boot group and boom! You can boot from PXE using your new cloned image.

CEETech (IT)