Automating the installation of Windows 2000 Server

Automating the installation of server applications

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When you perform an unattended installation of Windows 2000 Server, you create an answer file that supplies information to the setup routine. In addition, if you are going to install Windows 2000 Server on multiple computers over a network, you must create at least one set of distribution folders. This lesson describes the process of creating an answer file and setting up the distribution files necessary for a network installation.

AUTOMATING THE INSTALLATION OF WINDOWS 2000 SERVER

Automated installations of Windows 2000 Server involve running Setup with an answer file. You can perform automated installations on multiple computers so that Setup can take place in an unattended fashion. The following installations can be automated:

• The core Windows 2000 Server operating system
• Any application that does not run as a service
• Additional language support for Windows 2000 Server through the installation of various language packs
• Service packs for Windows 2000 Server

AUTO-INSTALLATION OF SERVER APPLICATIONS

In addition to automating the installation of the Windows 2000 Server operating system, you can automate the installation of other applications that will reside on your target computers. You can use two methods to automate the installation of server applications: using the Cmdlines.txt file or using the answer file. The Cmdlines.txt file contains a list of commands that are executed during the GUI mode phase of the Windows 2000 installation. The answer file, which allows you to run an unattended installation of Windows 2000 Server, includes the [GuiRunOnce] section. You can add an application installation program or a batch file to this section to facilitate automated installation of server applications.