Pre-stage Target Computers for Windows Deployment Services for LTI Deployments

You can pre-stage PXE client computers in AD DS domains. When target computers are pre-staged, the computer accounts exist in AD DS domains (also called known computers). Target computers that are not pre-staged do not have computer accounts in AD DS domains (also called unknown computers).

Note Responding to unknown computers is the preferred method for LTI deployments, because it is the simplest method. If you pre-stage the target computers, LTI is unable to use the pre-staged computer account. Only Windows Deployment Services can use the pre-staged computer accounts.

You can configure Windows Deployment Services to respond to computers that are known or unknown. Depending on the Windows Deployment Services configuration, you may need to pre-stage the target computers. Doing so authorizes Windows Deployment Services to deploy operating system images to the target computer.

Note If Windows Deployment Services is configured to respond to any computer (known or unknown), pre-staging the target computers is not necessary. LTI will not use a pre-staged computer account when joining the domain. Instead, LTI uses the computer name and credentials configured in the task sequence or through the rules process.

To pre-stage the target computers for Windows Deployment Services

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.

2. In the console tree, right-click organizational_unit (where organizational_unit is the name of the OU that will contain the target computer), point to New, and then click Computer.

3. In the New Object – Computer dialog box, in the Computer name box, type computer_name (where computer_name is the name of the target computer), and then click Next.

4. In the Managed dialog box, select the This is a managed computer check box. In the Computer’s unique ID (GUID/UUID) box, type guid_uuid (where guid_uuid is the GUID/UUID of the computer), and then click Next.

Note For more information on locating the GUID for target computers, see the Microsoft TechNet document, Locate the GUID for client computers.

5. In the Host server dialog box, select one of the following options, and then click Next:

· Any available remote installation server. This option specifies that this computer can be serviced by any RIS/Windows Deployment Services server.

· The following remote installation server. This option designates a specific server to service the computer. Specify the FQDN of the server running Windows Deployment Services.

6. In the New Object – Computer dialog box, review the information displayed, and then click Finish.

7. Close all open windows.