AeXAdmin

Loading the AClient from the DS in Windows PE can take a long time over a slow WAN link. Here's how to modify the WinPE Boot Option created by the PXE configuration Utility so that it loads the AClient from a Local server instead of the DS.

1) Select the applicable local PXE server and create a WinPE Boot Menu Option using the PXE configuration tool, take a note of the Final location at the bottom of the first page when creating the boot option. Also ensure that you map a drive (usually the G: to the local share which will store the AClient

2) Once created locate the folder described in the final location and search for WinPE.ISO (you may have several of these if using multiple CPU types)

3) You will need some way of editing the WinPE.ISO created (Daemon Tools and EasyISO are free tools that can mount and recreate the ISO)

4) After mounting/opening WinPE.ISO search for the following file: STARTNET.CMD and edit is as follows:

STARTNET.CMD uses the following line to find the correct AClient (based on CPU type):

call %utl% :fnd-aclient "" x86 %ALTIRIS_SHARE%\Agents\Aclient %systemdrive%\aclient.exe

where %ALTIRIS_SHARE%\Agents\Aclient represents the location that should be searched for the correct Aclient

Make the following change highlighted in Blue

call %utl% :fnd-aclient "" x86 G:\Agents\Aclient %systemdrive%\aclient.exe

Note: The G: was mapped to a local server as described above (in this case the local package server).

5) On the share that you have mapped the G: to replicate the folder and file structure from the DS (highlighted in blue)

\\<servername>\express\Agents\AClient\*

6) Recreate your .ISO and replace the original WinPE.ISO on both your local package server and the corresponding menu option under MasterImages within the PXE folder on the DS.

7) Boot a client to Windows PE and ensure everything functions correctly, the AClient should load much faster than before.

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Altiris Certified Engineer (ACE)