Installing and configuring the PXE server

For the machines to automatically boot over the network into Agent when the scheduled time comes, do the following:

1. Install Acronis PXE Server. If you performed a typical installation, the PXE server is already installed together with OS Deploy Server.

   Tip: If all of the target machines are located in one subnet, but OS Deploy Server is installed in a different subnet, we recommend installing a separate PXE server in the target machines’ subnet. For details, see “Deployment in another subnet”.

2. Connect the management console to the PXE server.
3. Do one of the following, as described in “Configuring Acronis PXE Server”:
   • Upload the agent to the PXE server by clicking Upload components.
   • Upload a Preinstallation Environment (PE) image to the PXE server by clicking Upload PE image to PXE. For information about creating a PE image (a WIM file), see “Adding Acronis Snap Deploy 5 components to WinPE”.

   When uploading the agent or the PE image:

   • Set Start operating system as the default boot menu option.
   • Set up a reasonable time-out so that the operating system can start automatically. You can leave the default setting for the time-out.

Without a PXE server, you will need to boot the target machines manually before the deployment task starts.

Alternatively, you can configure online deployment to the target machines.