Sun N1 System Manager 1.3 Operating System Provisioning Guide

Diskless Client Overview

A diskless client is a system that depends on an OS server for its operating system, software, and storage. A diskless client mounts its root (/), /usr, and other file systems from its OS server. A diskless client has its own CPU and physical memory and can process data locally. However, a diskless client cannot operate if it is detached from its network or if its OS server malfunctions. A diskless client generates significant network traffic because of its continual need to function across the network. For a conceptual overview of diskless clients, see Diskless Client Management Overview in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

N1 System Manager supports diskless clients for the following operating systems and relates directly to the OS that is running on the management server: