TABLE OF CONTENTS Prestaging is the ability to create a network infrastructure in which all client computers will use specified RIS servers. This option can be used with success when there are multiple RIS servers in the same site in the Active Directory. A client computer will always try to connect to an RIS server in the same site as it belongs. If prestaging isn't used, then there is a possibility that all clients will contact an RIS server in another physical location and thereby use all of the bandwidth available on the WAN lines. If there is only one RIS server in the network, then there is no need for prestaging. If there isn't an RIS server in the client's site, then the client computer will automatically go to the nearest site possible to connect to an RIS server.
Imagine this scenario: There is one site covering two locations, with a 2-Mbit line, and there is an RIS server in each location. Both locations serve 350 client computers. In this scenario, there is a reason to make sure that the client computers always use the RIS server in their own locations and thereby save bandwidth between the two sites. There are two possible solutions to this scenario:
Change the site structure from one site to two sites.
Prestage computers to the RIS server in their own locations.
Another reason is security. If all computer accounts in the Active Directory are prestaged, then only known client computers can download RIS images. Before...
