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        Deploying WDS Image on 64-bit hardware

Section(s): Active Directory , Admin
Published on Nov 10, 2010.
Last Modified on Nov 11, 2010.
Last Modified by Nirmal Sharma.
Rating: Not Rated

This article explains a problem with WDS Image on 64-bit computers.

The WDS Image can be deployed easily on 32-bit hardware and without any issues. The client computers have 32-bit hardware can easily locate WDS Server and pull the image from WDS Server but client computers having 64-bit hardware cannot locate WDS Server and thus cannot pull the image. The support for 64-bit computers must be enabled on the WDS Server.

To enable support for 64-bit computers, run the following commands on the WDS Server:

Go to command prompt with elevated privileges on WDS Server:

Wdsutil /set-server /architecturediscovery:yes

The above command enables support for 64-bit hardware on WDS Servers. The WDS Client which runs on Windows client computers is able to discover the 64-bit hardware after you run the above command.

About Nirmal Sharma

Nirmal is a Microsoft MVP in Directory Services and working as a Technical Architect/Consultant. He has been involved in Microsoft Technologies since 1994 and followed the progression of Microsoft Operating Systems and software. He is specialized in Directory Services, Microsoft Clustering, SQL, MOM, Exchange and Citrix. In his spare time, he likes to help others and write "internal" technical articles, white papers and tips on various Microsoft technologies. You can contact him at nirmal_sharma@mvps.org.