What Is the Remoteboot Service?

The Remoteboot service is a Windows NT Server feature that supports MS-DOS and Windows workstations that boot (or start) using software on a server's hard disk instead of the workstation's hard disk.

Each of these workstations has a network adapter with a Remote Initial Program Load (RPL) ROM chip that retrieves startup and configuration software from the server when the workstation starts. This process is known as booting remotely or the remoteboot process.

You can install and configure the Remoteboot service on the server and then customize it to be more effective for your particular network and for your users' needs.

Using the Remoteboot service with diskless workstations has several advantages:

Increased network security by using workstations that do not have disk drives that can be used to copy data and to introduce viruses

Greater control over the distribution of information and software resources

Ease of updating software centrally

Reduced cost in buying and maintaining workstations

Using the Remoteboot service has advantages for workstations with hard disks as well:

Easy upgrading of software and operating systems on many workstations

Greater flexibility in standardizing workstations while allowing custom configurations

In general, remoteboot offers greater control to the network administrator.

When you use Remoteboot Manager for the first time, you must decide which profiles you need. A profile is the working environment shared by one or more workstations. It consists of the operating system, the workstation and architecture type, the network adapter type, and all the other information needed to boot a workstation.

Note that remoteboot profiles are completely different from user profiles and hardware profiles, which are used elsewhere in Windows NT Server.

Before a workstation with a hard disk can be booted remotely, its hard disk must be properly configured for the Remoteboot service. This does not prevent users from accessing the hard disk after the workstation is booted.

For information about installing the Remoteboot service (or converting from a LAN Manager remoteboot installation) and about installing client files (MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, and the remoteboot client software), see the Windows NT Server Resource Kit.


To start or stop the Remoteboot service

1	In Control Panel, double-click the Services icon.

2	In the Services dialog box, select the Remoteboot service.

3	Click Start or Stop.

4	In the Services dialog box, click Close.

Tips

You can also use the net start remoteboot command to start the Remoteboot service and net stop remoteboot to stop it.

After you start the Remoteboot service for the first time, check the server's event log for entries related to the Remoteboot service. To do this, use Event Viewer in the Administrative Tools group.


To check the Remoteboot installation

1	On the Configure menu, click Check Configurations and then click Yes.

This checks which operating systems are available for remoteboot workstations.

2	Click Fix Security and then click Yes.

This overwrites permissions throughout the \systemroot\Rpl directory, creates accounts for remoteboot workstations and the RPLUSER local account (if they don't already exist), and updates the domain entry in Lanman.ini files for remoteboot workstations to match the server's own domain/workgroup.

Note

You should also use these configuration and security checking features after installation and after you add or remove support for an operating system.


To create a profile

1	On the Remoteboot menu, click New Profile.

2	In the Profile Name box, type a name for this profile.

You can type up to 16 characters, with no spaces or backslashes.

3	In the Configuration box, select a configuration.

A configuration is actually a template profile; a profile is created as a copy of one of the base configurations.

4	In the Description box, type a comment for the profile.

Use a description that can be easily recognized.

5	Click OK.

Notes

Workstations use either share a profile or use a personal copy of a profile. The profile is the same in either case; the difference is in how the workstation uses it.

If the configuration you want is not available, you must install the files for the appropriate operating system and then check the configuration. To do this, on the Configure menu, click Check Configurations.


To change a profile

1	Select an existing profile in Remoteboot Manager.

2	On the Remoteboot menu, click Properties.

3	Change the description of the profile as appropriate.

4	Click OK.

Note

You can only change the description. To change any other settings, you must create a new profile.


To delete a profile

1	Select an existing profile in Remoteboot Manager.

2	On the Remoteboot menu, click Delete.

3	In the confirmation dialog box, click OK.

Tip

If a message appears telling you that workstations are still assigned to this profile, you can delete or reassign all of the workstations at one time. To do this, select the profile, click Workstations In Profile on the View menu, select all of the workstations, and then, on the Remoteboot menu, click Delete.


To enable Remoteboot on a workstation's hard disk

1	Insert a formatted MS-DOS floppy disk in the remoteboot server's floppy disk drive.

2	Copy the files Rplenable.exe and Rpldsabl.exe to the floppy disk by typing:

copy  c:\systemroot\rpl\rplfiles\binfiles\binr\rpl??abl.exe  a:

where a:  is the floppy disk drive.

3	Start the remoteboot workstation, booting MS-DOS from the local hard disk.

4	Put the disk with the Rplenabl.exe program in the workstation's floppy disk drive and type:

a:rplenabl

where a:  is the workstation's floppy disk drive.

5	Remove the disk and press CTRL+ALT+DEL.

The Remote Program Load Module information appears as the RPL ROM chip initializes the network adapter.

Note

Use the rplenabl utility to prepare the workstation to use the Remoteboot service. Later, if you want to boot the workstation using its hard disk, run the rpldsabl utility to disable the remoteboot configuration.


To view an adapter record

1	Start Remoteboot Manager on the server. Be sure to log on to a user account that belongs to the Administrators local group.

2	Select the adapter record.

3	On the Remoteboot menu, click Properties.

Notes

You can view the properties of an adapter record, including the adapter ID (a unique number that identifies the network adapter), a description of the adapter, and a suggested configuration. You cannot change any of this information; you can only view it.

You cannot create adapter records; they appear only when a remoteboot workstation starts and no workstation record exists for that workstation.


To add a new workstation manually

1	Start Remoteboot Manager. Be sure to log on to a user account that belongs to the Administrators local group.

2	On the Remoteboot menu, click New Workstation. Or, to select an existing workstation record, click Copy.

3	In the Adapter ID box, type the workstation's network adapter ID number. This is a unique number supplied by the network adapter firmware

4	In the Wksta Name box, type a name for the workstation. The name can have up to 15 characters; do not use spaces or backslashes.

5	In the Description box, type a comment that describes the workstation.

6	In the Password box, type a password for the workstation's account (not for the user using the workstation).

7	Select one of two configuration types:  Shared, if this workstation can share its profile with other workstations; or Personal, if this workstation must use a personal copy of a profile so that you can customize the environment for the workstation.

8	In the Wksta In Profile box, select a profile for this workstation.

9	In the TCP/IP Settings box, enter appropriate addresses only if the workstation will use TCP/IP and will not use DHCP for automatic address handling.

10	Click Add.

Notes

If none of the profiles are suitable (for example, there are no profiles for this workstation's network adapter), see To create a profile.

If you see a profile in the list that appears to be appropriate, but it is marked as incompatible (or if a message appears, telling you that the profile is incompatible), then you may need to create a new configuration for this adapter type.


To add a new workstation automatically

1	On the server, start Remoteboot Manager. Be sure to log on to a user account that belongs to the Administrators local group.

2	Start the remoteboot workstation. The workstation does not actually boot, but it does send a boot request to the server.

3	On the View menu in Remoteboot Manager, click Refresh.

4	Select the adapter record or records that have appeared with the network adapter ID number in place of the workstation name, and, on the Remoteboot menu, click Convert Adapters.

5	In the Wksta Name box, type a name for the workstation. The name can have up to 15 characters; do not use spaces or backslashes.

6	In the Description box, type a comment that describes the workstation. The box already contains a comment provided by the network adapter itself.

7	Select one of two configuration types:  Shared, if this workstation can share its profile with other workstations; or Personal, if this workstation must use a personal copy of a profile so that you can customize the environment for the workstation.

8	In the Wksta In Profile box, select a profile for this workstation.

9	In the TCP/IP Configuration box, enter appropriate addresses only if the workstation will use TCP/IP and will not use DHCP for automatic address handling.

10	Click Add.

If you are converting more than one adapter ID record, the next record appears in the dialog box.

Notes

You cannot create adapter records; they appear only when a remoteboot workstation starts, and no workstation record exists for that workstation.

Profiles that are unsuitable for this type of adapter (determined by the first six digits of the network adapter ID number) are marked with a red letter X.

If none of the profiles are suitable (for example, there are no profiles for this workstation's network adapter), see To create a profile.

If the server's \Rpl directory is on a FAT file system, use standard MS-DOS 8.3 format (eight characters, with an optional period and three more characters).


What You See on the Workstation

When you boot a workstation to run MS-DOS or Windows 3.1, a remoteboot logon prompt appears asking for the account name and password associated with the workstation. Once the boot is complete, type a net logon command to log on with your own username and password.

When a workstation has completed a remote boot, the current directory is C:\, and the C drive is a virtual hard drive, parts of which are mapped to various places on the remoteboot server by the FIT file.

If the server uses NTFS, a workstation assigned to a profile (rather than to a personal copy of a profile) can add or modify files only in certain directories on its virtual C drive. It cannot affect directories on the C drive that are shared with other workstations (unless you explicitly grant permission to do so on the server).

A remoteboot workstation always runs the NetBEUI protocol. To run other protocols as well, see the Windows NT Server Resource Kit.


To change a workstation record

1	Start Remoteboot Manager on the server. Be sure to log on to a user account that belongs to the Administrators local group.

2	Select the appropriate workstation record or records.

3	On the Remoteboot menu, click Properties.

4	Update the information as needed.

5	Click OK.

Note

You can change any of the properties of a workstation record except the network adapter ID number.


To disable the Remoteboot process

1	Start the workstation, booting MS-DOS remotely or from a floppy disk.

2	Put the disk with the Rpldsabl.exe program in the workstation's floppy disk drive and type:

a:rpldsabl

where a:  is the workstation's floppy disk drive.

3	Remove the disk and press CTRL+ALT+DEL.


To remove a workstation record

1	Start Remoteboot Manager on the server. Be sure to log on to a user account that belongs to the Administrators local group.

2	Select the appropriate workstation record or records.

3	On the Remoteboot menu, click Delete.

4	Verify that you want to delete this workstation record.

Note

If Remoteboot Manager originally created an account while creating a workstation record, removing the workstation record also removes the account associated with that workstation. If the account existed before the workstation record, then the account will remain after removing the workstation record.

If the client was a Windows 95 client, you may want to delete the client's machine directory.


To back up the remoteboot database

 	On the Configure menu of Remoteboot Manager, click Backup Database.

The Jet.log, Rplsvc.mdb, and System.mdb files are backed up to the \systemroot\Rpl\Backup directory.

Note

You should back up the remoteboot database, which holds the configuration, workstation, and profile records and other data for the Remoteboot service, both before and after you make significant changes.

While the Remoteboot service automatically backs up the database every 24 hours (counting from when you start the service), it is also a good idea to occasionally archive copies of the backup files.


To restore the remoteboot database

 	Copy the files from \systemroot\Rpl\Backup (or other saved versions of the files) to the \Rpl directory.

Note

In the event of an emergency (such as a corrupted database), the Remoteboot service restores automatically from the \systemroot\Rpl\Backup directory.


New Workstation

Creates a new workstation record. You must already know the workstation's network adapter ID number.


New Profile

Creates a new profile. There must already be at least one configuration (combination of operating system and network adapter) available.

A profile can be shared by a group of common users who have similar workstations and will use the same startup information. (All users have the same Config.sys, Lanman.ini, and other configuration files, and those files are read-only.)


Convert Adapters

Converts adapter records (where the client has been started but is not yet in the remoteboot database) to workstation records by adding the workstation's name and profile. This makes it easier because you don't need to know the workstation's network adapter ID number.


Copy

Copies an existing workstation record as a basis for a new workstation record.


Delete

Deletes a workstation record or a profile, depending on what is selected.


Properties

Displays the current settings for a workstation record or a profile. You can change some of the settings.


Set Focus

Administers a remoteboot server other than the local computer.


Exit

Stops the Remoteboot Manager.


All Workstations

Displays all workstation records in the remoteboot database.


Workstations in Profile

Displays only the workstation records associated with a specific profile (or a copy of that profile).


Refresh

Updates the Remoteboot Manager display, showing any new network adapter records from workstations that have booted but are not yet in the remoteboot database.


Fix Security

Adjusts security settings to allow proper access for remoteboot workstations. You should use the Fix Security command after installation and again after you add or remove support for an operating system.


Check Configurations

Builds configurations (combinations of operating systems and network adapter types), which are then available to be assigned to profiles. You should use this command after installation and again after you add or remove support for an operating system or network adapter.


Backup Database

Creates backup copies of the files that comprise the remoteboot database.


Confirmation

Displays a confirmation dialog box before carrying out the Fix Security and Check Configurations commands on the Configure menu. A check mark next to the Confirmation command means that it is in effect.


Save Settings on Exit

Saves display settings each time you exit Remoteboot Manager. A check mark next to the Save Settings on Exit command means that it is in effect.


Contents

Starts Help and displays the topics in Remoteboot Manager Help.


Search for Help on

Opens the Index tabfor Help. You can look up Help information by using keywords on this tab.


How to Use Help

Describes how to use Help.


About Remoteboot Manager

Displays version and copyright information about Remoteboot Manager.