Dataless Clients

A dataless client has local storage for its root (/) file system and swap space. The dataless client cannot function if detached from the network, because its executables (/usr) and user files (/home) are located across the network on the disk of a server.

A dataless client places far less demand on the server and the network than a diskless client does. Because dataless clients require less network access, a server can accommodate many more dataless clients than it can diskless clients. Also, since all the user files of all the dataless clients are stored centrally (on a server), they can be backed up and administered centrally.

Dataless clients are no longer supported with operating systems later than Solaris 2.5.1; it is recommended that you use AutoClient systems instead of dataless clients.