Serva
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
What it is
Serva is a Windows application for network booting and operating-system installation through PXE. Its portable application 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. The proxyDHCP service is described as providing PXE service without changing existing DHCP infrastructure settings. For Windows deployment, Serva offers an alternative to RIS and WDS that does not require 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. The free Community edition is for personal, non-commercial use and limits service to 50 minutes and two PXE clients. Professional costs $92.00 per year and permits commercial use, 50 clients, and unlimited service time.
For and against
For
- Supports BIOS and UEFI boot targets
- Includes a TFTP client
- Runs without installation
- Professional allows unlimited PXE/BINL service time
Against
- Community limits service to 50 minutes
- Community allows only two PXE clients
- Community lacks WinPE booting and Task Sequence Manager
- Professional requires $92.00 per year
The verdict
Serva offers a portable PXE toolkit with support for Windows and non-Windows deployment. The Community edition has tight usage limits and lacks some Windows deployment features; Professional costs $92.00 per year.
Who it suits
Serva suits Windows users who need to boot computers over a network or deploy Windows and non-Windows operating systems. Community is limited to personal, non-commercial use; Professional permits commercial use.
Plans and prices
Community
Personal, non-commercial use only · 50-minute PXE/BINL service limit · 2 PXE clients
Read 4 Oct 2026 · vercot.com
Professional
Commercial use · 50 PXE/BINL clients · Unlimited PXE/BINL service time
Read 4 Oct 2026 · vercot.com
On the record
- Boot targets
- Serva delivers Windows and non-Windows assets to UEFI, including ARM 32/64-bit UEFI, and BIOS targets.vercot.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Bundled services
- The portable application bundles HTTP, FTP, TFTP, DHCP, proxyDHCP, BINL, DNS, SNTP, and SYSLOG services, plus a TFTP client.vercot.com · read 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.vercot.com · read 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.vercot.com · read 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.vercot.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maker and location
- The site credits Vercot LLC and Patrick Masotta and says Serva is made in Denver, Colorado, USA.vercot.com · read 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.vercot.com · read 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.vercot.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Serva is an automated PXE server solution for network booting and installing operating systems.vercot.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- PXE compatibility
- Its proxyDHCP service is described as allowing PXE service without changing the existing DHCP infrastructure settings.vercot.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security history
- The version history lists fixes for HTTP denial-of-service, TFTP denial-of-service, and TFTP directory-traversal vulnerabilities.vercot.com · read 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.vercot.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- 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.vercot.com · read 4 Oct 2026
