Active Directory/Documentation/WDS/Service Configuration

This page documents the overall layout of centralized WDS services on campus, as well as specific configuration options on the servers and services running. This is intended as a quick reference guide, not a disaster recovery document.

DHCP

Three DHCP templates are used to connect users to the centralized WDS service. In addition, IT organizations on campus have the ability to integrate centralized WDS services into their own DHCP templates if they so choose.

Servers

There are three servers currently: munin.wolftech.ad.ncsu.edu, hugin.wolftech.ad.ncsu.edu, and wt-wds-00.wolftech.ad.ncsu.edu. wt-wds-00 is on temporary loan from ITECS. PXE-all connects users to munin, while WDS-Main connects users to wt-wds-00, and WDS-Centennial connects users to hugin. These servers are configured to be fully redundant, so all images, drivers, and other files placed in the Deployment DFS area will be mirrored between all servers.

DFS/Replication

A DFS area, \\wolftech.ad.ncsu.edu\deployment, has been created so that it is easy for all users to submit new images and drivers to the service. Additionally, DFS helps replicate the server assets and configuration between the various WDS servers.

Note: replication limitations are inactive until further notice - all replication is performed 24 hours per day at full bandwidth utilization

\deployment\Staging

This area is used for submission of all items (drivers, images, etc) to the service. It has been set up so that it replicates at up to 16Kbps during the hours of 9a-4p Monday through Friday. This is done so that if imaging is taking place, replication of staging data interferes only minimally with the imaging process. Outside of these hours, full bandwidth usage is allowed for replication.

\deployment\DriverRepository

This area contains the various drivers supported through the service. It has been set up so that it replicates at up to 16Kbps during the hours of 9a-4p Monday through Friday. This is done so that if imaging is taking place, replication of driver data interferes only minimally with the imaging process. Outside of these hours, full bandwidth usage is allowed for replication.

\deployment\RemoteInstall

This area contains the actual images and settings replicated between the WDS servers. There are no restrictions on the bandwidth allotted for data replication in this group.