Configuration Manager 2007 PXE Service Point causes the Windows Deployment Services Server service to crash and hang
Posted by Eswar Koneti on March 1st, 2011
Frequently we see some issues with sccm clients when PXE boot for OS deployment with some locations(WDS servers) because of IP helpers and to identify the issue is caused because of this,it took some days because we have to check from server side if there are any issues running around.
When attempting PXE boots via a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 PXE Service Point, PXE boots will initially work and succeed but then all of a sudden stop working. Examining the server where the PXE Service Point and Windows Deployment Services (WDS) are installed reveals that the Windows Deployment Services Server service has crashed and is in a hung state. Attempting to restart the Windows Deployment Services Server service on the WDS server does not resolve the issue. Restarting both the Windows Management Instrumentation and the Windows Deployment Services Server services or restarting the server may temporarily resolve the problem, but the issue will eventually reoccur and WDS will eventually crash again.
Trying to reproduce the issue by continually attempting to PXE boot PCs reveals that although the issue may happen frequently, the issue cannot be reproduced on a consistent basis and that the crashes will happen randomly.
Examining the WDS server where the ConfigMgr 2007 PXE Service Point is installed reveals the following errors in Event Viewer
System Event Log:
<Date> <Time> Error <WDS_Server> Service Control Manager N/A N/A The Windows Deployment Services Server service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this <x> time(s). The following corrective action will be taken in 120000 milliseconds: Restart the service.
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