Working with Remote Installation Services | Introducing Microsoft Windows Server(TM) 2003

All editions of Windows Server 2003, with the exception of Web Edition, offer Remote Installation Services (RIS), a change and configuration management feature that was also included with Windows 2000. RIS enables you to set up new client computers remotely, without the need to physically visit each client machine. You can use RIS to install operating systems on remote boot “enabled client computers by connecting the computer to the network, starting the client computer, and logging on with a valid user account.

If your network uses RIS with Windows NT 4.0 Server, you should make the RIS server the first computer that you upgrade to Windows Server 2003. You won't be able to use RIS later unless it is upgraded first because of design changes in the way that Active Directory does authentication. Upgrading the RIS server to Windows Server 2003 gives it the ability to communicate with the remaining Windows NT 4.0 domain controllers, as well as with Windows Server 2003 domain controllers.

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