5

My Requirements:

  • I want to maintain only one Windows installation on one system (say, server).
  • I want to boot to this installation using LAN boot feature of BIOS of other systems in network. There may be multiple active simultaneous sessions.
  • I want to remove hard disks (or any secondary storage) from other systems in network (So, there mustn't be any dependency on it).

I know Windows 7 doesn't allow multiple active sessions, so Windows server 2008 based solutions will be fine. BTW, I've hacked Windows 7 to remove this restriction which works fine with multiple simultaneous sessions via Remote Desktop. So, you may give Windows 7 based solution too..

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

Use WDS to provide a WinPE image (that contains a RDC client) using the RAMDISK method over PXE.

The rest is an exercise for the reader, I don't know which parts of this you are capable of doing and which you are not. Technet includes a lot of information on these indivdual subjects, so that should most likely be your first stop in this journey. If you encounter a problem it's best to ask a new question to outline your problem and get more detailed advice...

Improve this answer
5
  • -1. Haven't you read my question carefully? WinPE (having RDC) needs a secondary storage in client systems, but I don't want to keep any secondary storage in client systems...
    – user79032
    Sep 18, 2011 at 2:39
  • I'm talking about existence of WinPE in client systems. Even OEMs also add flash storage in thin clients to keep WinPE.
    – user79032
    Sep 18, 2011 at 8:08
  • Sounds like you are saying this: Keep WinPE image on server. LAN boot from clients to fetch this WinPE image in local RAM. Using this loaded image to establish a RDC session to Windows on server. Great!
    – user79032
    Sep 18, 2011 at 8:30
  • 1
    @Sachin: Exactly, I haven't used these services myself so I can't really outline any specifics or step-by-step guide. On a side note, if you need better RDC performance, Windows 8 will bring you so with RemoteFX features like progressive image/video loading (so that static text gets displayed as fast as possible and the rest builds up from that). Good luck on implementing this, what you are trying to do is very interesting. I wonder about the scalability of many RDC sessions though...
    – Tamara Wijsman
    Sep 18, 2011 at 8:40
  • Thanks again.. Windows 8 Developer Preview has been launched.. I'll surely try it with Windows 8...
    – user79032
    Sep 18, 2011 at 9:30
0

AFAIK, you can't PXE boot into another Windows 7 install, since PXE stands for Pre-Boot Xecution Environment.

Improve this answer
5
  • 1
    That's just a word from a title, have you read the actual chain?
    – Tamara Wijsman
    Sep 18, 2011 at 8:22
  • @surfasb Tom has solved the problem smartly.. You can't PXE boot to Windows 7, but who needs it.. Just, PXE boot to WinPE image and using WinPE, establish RDC to Windows 7. Done!
    – user79032
    Sep 18, 2011 at 8:46
  • @Tom Wijsman: Didn't know WinPE has RDP on it. Learn something new everyday.
    – surfasb
    Sep 18, 2011 at 13:40
  • @surfasb: I don't know if it has, but it can be added...
    – Tamara Wijsman
    Sep 18, 2011 at 14:39
  • @TomWijsman: Well, that will be something to mess around with today.
    – surfasb
    Sep 18, 2011 at 15:16

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .