Serva

Free plan Windows

What Serva is

Serva is a Windows application for booting computers over a network and installing operating systems. It combines PXE deployment with a portable set of services: HTTP, FTP, TFTP, DHCP, proxyDHCP, BINL, DNS, SNTP and SYSLOG, as well as a TFTP client. It can deliver Windows and non-Windows assets to BIOS and UEFI systems, including 32-bit and 64-bit ARM UEFI targets. Its proxyDHCP service is designed to let PXE work 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. Its Task Sequence Manager captures and deploys Windows PC images. Serva does not require installation or save keys in the Windows registry. The free Community edition is limited to personal, non-commercial use, 50 minutes of PXE/BINL service and two PXE clients; it also omits WinPE booting and the Task Sequence Manager. Professional costs $92.00 per year and includes commercial use, 50 PXE/BINL clients and unlimited service time. Serva is credited to Vercot LLC and Patrick Masotta and is made in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Who it suits

Serva suits Windows administrators who need to boot or install operating systems across a network, including Windows and non-Windows systems. Its Professional plan supports commercial use and image capture and deployment through the Task Sequence Manager.

What it does well

Bundles nine server services and a TFTP client.
Supports BIOS, UEFI and ARM 32/64-bit UEFI targets.
ProxyDHCP works without changing existing DHCP settings.
Portable use requires no installation or registry keys.
Professional includes unlimited PXE/BINL service time.

What to know first

Community is limited to personal, non-commercial use.
Community limits PXE/BINL service to 50 minutes and two clients.
Community does not support WinPE booting or Task Sequence Manager.
Available for Windows only.

Limits

Community allows up to two PXE clients and 50 minutes of PXE/BINL service, and excludes WinPE booting and the Task Sequence Manager. Professional supports 50 PXE/BINL clients with unlimited service time and costs $92.00 per year.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Community	Free · Personal, non-commercial use only · 50-minute PXE/BINL service limit · 2 PXE clients	Free
Professional	$92.00/year · Commercial use · 50 PXE/BINL clients · Unlimited PXE/BINL service time	$92 a year

As vercot.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Serva website.
Use a Windows system that meets the requirements for the chosen edition.
Choose Community for personal, non-commercial use or Professional for commercial use.
Run the portable application; installation is not required.
For Professional, use an Internet Validated license with Internet access or a military Node Lock license without it.

Verdict

Choose Serva for Windows-based network booting and operating-system deployment across BIOS and UEFI targets. Professional is the fit for commercial use or deployments that need the Task Sequence Manager and unlimited service time; Community is restricted to personal use and brief sessions.

Questions

How much does Serva cost?

Community is free. Professional costs $92.00 per year.

What are the Community plan limits?

It is for personal, non-commercial use and limits PXE/BINL service to 50 minutes and two PXE clients. It does not support WinPE booting or the Task Sequence Manager.

Which platforms does Serva support?

Serva runs on Windows. Community requires an up-to-date Windows XP SP3 through Windows 11 or a Windows Server version; Professional requires an up-to-date Windows 7 through Windows 11 or a Windows Server version.

Does Serva require an internet connection?

Community does not. Professional requires Internet access with the Internet Validated license; the military Node Lock license does not.

Who makes Serva?

The site credits Vercot LLC and Patrick Masotta, and says Serva is made in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Can Serva deploy Windows images?

Professional includes a Task Sequence Manager for capturing and deploying Windows PC images. Community does not support that manager.

Facts from Serva's own pages

Boot targets: Serva delivers Windows and non-Windows assets to UEFI, including ARM 32/64-bit UEFI, and BIOS targets. · vercot.com, 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, 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, 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, 4 Oct 2026
Headquarters: Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. · vercot.com, 28 Sept 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, 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, 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, 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, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Serva is an automated PXE server solution for network booting and installing operating systems. · vercot.com, 4 Oct 2026
PXE compatibility: Its proxyDHCP service is described as allowing PXE service without changing the existing DHCP infrastructure settings. · vercot.com, 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, 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, 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, 4 Oct 2026

Where Serva stands on Freedom251

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