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Serva

Serva is a Windows application for network booting and installing operating systems through PXE.

Place
#8 of 28
Score
6.6
Serva's website

What Serva is

Serva is a Windows application for network booting and installing operating systems through PXE. The portable tool bundles HTTP, FTP, TFTP, DHCP, proxyDHCP, BINL, DNS, SNTP, and SYSLOG services, plus a TFTP client. It can deliver Windows and non-Windows assets to BIOS and UEFI systems, including ARM 32-bit and 64-bit UEFI targets. Its proxyDHCP service is described as enabling PXE service without changing existing DHCP infrastructure settings. For Windows deployment, Serva offers an alternative to RIS and WDS that does not depend on WAIK or ADK, along with a Task Sequence Manager for capturing and deploying PC images. It does not require installation or save keys in the Windows registry. Community is free for personal, non-commercial use, but limits PXE/BINL service to 50 minutes and two clients; it also lacks WinPE booting and the Task Sequence Manager. Professional costs $92.00 per year, allows commercial use, and provides 50 clients with unlimited service time.

Good

  • Supports Windows and non-Windows network installation.
  • Targets include BIOS and UEFI systems.
  • Portable use requires no installation.
  • Professional includes unlimited PXE/BINL service time.
  • Professional permits commercial use.

Watch out

  • Community is limited to personal, non-commercial use.
  • Community service is limited to 50 minutes.
  • Community supports only two PXE clients.
  • Professional costs $92.00 per year.

Who it suits

Serva suits Windows administrators who need to boot or deploy operating systems over a network. The Community edition is limited to personal, non-commercial use, while Professional permits commercial use.

Verdict

Serva combines network boot services with Windows image deployment tools, while running without installation. Community has notable usage and feature limits; Professional costs $92.00 per year and allows commercial deployment.

Plans and prices

From Serva's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
CommunityFreePersonal, non-commercial use only · 50-minute PXE/BINL service limit · 2 PXE clients · Free
Professional$92 a yearCommercial use · 50 PXE/BINL clients · Unlimited PXE/BINL service time · $92.00/year

The facts

Each one read from Serva's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Boot targets
Serva delivers Windows and non-Windows assets to UEFI, including ARM 32/64-bit UEFI, and BIOS targets.checked 4 Oct 2026
Bundled services
The portable application bundles HTTP, FTP, TFTP, DHCP, proxyDHCP, BINL, DNS, SNTP, and SYSLOG services, plus a TFTP client.checked 4 Oct 2026
Community features
Community supports Windows and non-Windows network installation, but the feature table says it does not support WinPE booting or the Task Sequence Manager.checked 4 Oct 2026
Community limits
Community is for personal, non-commercial use only and limits PXE/BINL service to 50 minutes and two PXE clients.checked 4 Oct 2026
License connectivity
The Community edition does not require Internet access; the civilian Internet Validated Professional license does, while the military Node Lock license does not.checked 4 Oct 2026
Operating systems
Community requires up-to-date Windows XP SP3 through Windows 11 or a Windows Server version; Professional requires up-to-date Windows 7 through Windows 11 or a Windows Server version.checked 4 Oct 2026
Portable setup
Serva does not require installation, does not save keys in the Windows registry, and is described as ready to use immediately.checked 4 Oct 2026
Purpose
Serva is an automated PXE server solution for network booting and installing operating systems.checked 4 Oct 2026
PXE compatibility
Its proxyDHCP service is described as allowing PXE service without changing the existing DHCP infrastructure settings.checked 4 Oct 2026
Security history
The version history lists fixes for HTTP denial-of-service, TFTP denial-of-service, and TFTP directory-traversal vulnerabilities.checked 4 Oct 2026
Support
The contact page asks support requests to include the Serva type and version, and Professional users to include their license ID.checked 4 Oct 2026

The company

Headquarters
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.checked 28 Sep 2026
Maker and location
The site credits Vercot LLC and Patrick Masotta and says Serva is made in Denver, Colorado, USA.checked 4 Oct 2026

Where it runs

Windows deployment
Serva provides a WAIK/ADK-independent alternative to RIS and WDS and includes a Task Sequence Manager for capturing and deploying Windows PC images.checked 4 Oct 2026

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