Abstract: A SAN Boot Server or SBS, and a method operative in association with a host boot SAN or BSAN) having hosts and devices coupled via network links to a network switch. The SBS stores a mapping of virtual volumes, each with one boot image. The SBS is coupled to the network switch and to the user network. The hosts have access to a virtual boot image when turned on, and each boot image directs each host to a storage device storing a booting program for booting the host. The hosts do not require, but may have an internal disk. The SBS is flagged for detection and differentiation, and each host has a modified host bus adaptor configured for fast discovery of a flagged SBS. There are groups of hosts having members, and when booting, each host accesses a specific boot image, which has a common portion and a host-specific portion, and each member shares the common portion.