An administrator is deploying 1000 new servers in a datacenter. A vendor will install the servers on racks and connect cables. Which of the following technologies would BEST for the administrator to…

SFTP is a secure file transfer protocol used to move files between systems after an OS is already installed and running; it cannot boot a server or initiate OS deployment.

TFTP is a supporting protocol used by PXE to transfer boot files over the network, but TFTP alone cannot manage or initiate an OS deployment process.

PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) allows servers to boot from the network and receive OS images from a central deployment server such as Windows Deployment Services, enabling simultaneous installation across hundreds or thousands of machines without requiring physical media at each unit. It supports automated, unattended installations that can be triggered in parallel, making it the most scalable solution for deploying 1000 servers in minimal time.

UDP is a transport-layer network protocol, not a deployment technology; it cannot be used directly to install operating systems on servers.

USB drives require physical insertion into each server individually, making them impractical and time-consuming for deploying OS installations across 1000 servers simultaneously.

DVD-based installation configured with an unattended answer file allows technicians to insert media and trigger automated OS installs on many servers simultaneously, complementing PXE in environments where network boot is not yet configured or available on certain hardware.