<P> Windows Deployment Services is a server technology from Microsoft for network - based installation of Windows operating systems . It is the successor to Remote Installation Services . WDS is intended to be used for remotely deploying Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2016, but also supports other operating systems because unlike its predecessor RIS, which was a method of automating the installation process, WDS uses disk imaging, in particular the Windows Imaging Format (WIM). WDS is included as a Server Role in all 32 - bit and 64 - bit versions of Windows Server 2008, and is included as an optionally installable component with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 . </P> <P> WDS functions in conjunction with the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) to load a miniature edition of Windows known as Windows PE for installation and maintenance tasks . WDS functions as both a storage repository for the PXE network boot images as well as a repository for the actual operating system images to be installed on the target computer . </P>

What is the windows deployment services (wds) role
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