 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2021) |
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Included with | Windows Server 2008 through Windows Server 2022 |
| Predecessor | Remote Installation Services |
| Successor | Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (WADK), Microsoft Deployment Toolkit,[1] System Center Configuration Manager[1] |
| Type | Remote deployment |
| License | Part of Microsoft Windows |
| Website | learn |
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is a deprecated component of the Windows Server operating system that enables centralized, network-based deployment of operating systems to bare-metal computers. It is the successor to Remote Installation Services (RIS).[2] WDS officially supports remote deployment of Windows Vista and later, as well as Windows Server 2008 and later. However, because WDS uses disk imaging, in particular the Windows Imaging Format (WIM), it could deploy virtually any operating system. This is in contrast with its predecessor, RIS, which was a method of automating the installation process.
WDS was first bundled with Windows Server 2008 and made available as a supplement for Windows Server 2003 R2. Microsoft deprecated some parts of WDS in Windows Server 2022. It can no longer deploy Windows 11 using a boot.wim file used directly from a Windows ISO or from physical media.[1]
- ^ a b c "Windows Deployment Services (WDS) boot.wim support". Microsoft 365 Library. Microsoft. 2 December 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.
- ^ "Windows Deployment Services Overview". Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012 Technical Library. Microsoft. 31 August 2016 – via Microsoft Learn.