CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)Server AdministrationMedium
A server administrator needs to install a new operating system on 20 identical physical servers located in a remote data center. Manual installation on each server would be time-consuming and prone to inconsistencies. Which of the following methods would be most efficient for deploying the OS while ensuring uniformity?
- ACreating a virtual machine template for physical servers.
- BUsing a live bootable USB drive for each server.
- CManually installing from an optical disc on each server.
- DImplementing a network-based PXE boot and automated installation.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Implementing a network-based PXE boot and automated installation.
Network-based PXE boot combined with automated installation scripts (like Kickstart for Linux or Unattend for Windows) allows for simultaneous and consistent OS deployment to multiple physical servers without manual intervention at each machine. This significantly reduces time and errors.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Virtual machine templates are for virtual machines, not directly for physical servers, and require a hypervisor to be already present.
- B. Using a live bootable USB drive for each server is still a manual process for each server and is not scalable for 20 servers in a remote data center.
- C. Manually installing from an optical disc on each server is highly inefficient and time-consuming for 20 servers, especially in a remote location.
PXE Boot (Preboot Execution Environment)
A standardized client-server interface that allows a computer to boot directly from a network interface, independent of data storage devices or installed operating systems.
- Enables network-based OS installation.
- Requires a DHCP server and a TFTP server.
- Commonly used for bare-metal provisioning.
Memory trick: Network Prep eXactly for Everything