Abstract: A method and a system are presented for facilitating a PXE-compliant (Preboot Execution Environment) remote boot process between clients and multiple servers. All clients are initially directed to the address of the central boot server when they initially request remote boot service. The central boot server returns the same small initial bootstrap program to every client, which is then executed by the client's embedded boot program. The received initial bootstrap program contains only enough logic to have the client request and receive a list of alternate boot server addresses. The list may be ordered to present to the client a series of best-available boot servers, or the client may search the list to determine an address of an alternate boot server that can efficiently continue the remote boot process. The client selects a boot server from the list and requests the next program from the selected boot server.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for facilitating a PXE-compliant (Preboot Execution Environment) remote boot process between clients and multiple available servers on a network. Each server device can respond to a PXE-extended DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Request message from any client device on the network. Each client can receive responses from the alternate servers, select a server from one of those responses, and be directed by that response to complete the remote boot process from the same server. Each server also employs a self-throttling process to prevent the server from responding to new PXE-extended DHCP request messages from additional clients while the server has insufficient resources to remote boot additional clients with the required quality of service. This automatically redirects those additional clients to other servers that can provide the required quality of service without affecting the remote boot of clients already being serviced by the server.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for facilitating a PXE-compliant (Preboot Execution Environment) remote boot process between clients and multiple available servers on a network. Each server device can respond to a PXE-extended DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Request message from any client device on the network. Each client can receive responses from the alternate servers, select a server from one of those responses, and be directed by that response to complete the remote boot process from the same server. Each server also employs a self-throttling process to prevent the server from responding to new PXE-extended DHCP request messages from additional clients while the server has insufficient resources to remote boot additional clients with the required quality of service. This automatically redirects those additional clients to other servers that can provide the required quality of service without affecting the remote boot of clients already being serviced by the server.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for facilitating a PXE-compliant (Preboot Execution Environment) remote boot process between clients and multiple available servers on a network. Each server device can respond to a PXE-extended DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Request message from any client device on the network. Each client can receive responses from the alternate servers, select a server from one of those responses, and be directed by that response to complete the remote boot process from the same server. Each server also employs a self-throttling process to prevent the server from responding to new PXE-extended DHCP request messages from additional clients while the server has insufficient resources to remote boot additional clients with the required quality of service. This automatically redirects those additional clients to other servers that can provide the required quality of service without affecting the remote boot of clients already being serviced by the server.

Abstract: A method of booting a plurality of target devices in communication with a network based on at least one target device definition is provided. A server in communication with the plurality of target devices receives a request for a boot file from at least one target device. A boot server in communication with the plurality of target devices is contacted. The boot server determines if the target device is defined. If the target device is not defined, the target device definition for the target device is created at the boot server. A bootstrap is executed at the target device, the bootstrap corresponding to the target definition. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Abstract: A method and a system are presented for facilitating a PXE-compliant (Preboot Execution Environment) remote boot process between clients and multiple servers. All clients are initially directed to the address of the central boot server when they initially request remote boot service. The central boot server returns the same small initial bootstrap program to every client, which is then executed by the client's embedded boot program. The received initial bootstrap program contains only enough logic to have the client request and receive a list of alternate boot server addresses. The list may be ordered to present to the client a series of best-available boot servers, or the client may search the list to determine an address of an alternate boot server that can efficiently continue the remote boot process. The client selects a boot server from the list and requests the next program from the selected boot server.

Abstract: A method of booting a plurality of target devices in communication with a network based on at least one target device definition is provided. A server in communication with the plurality of target devices receives a request for a boot file from at least one target device. A boot server in communication with the plurality of target devices is contacted. The boot server determines if the target device is defined. If the target device is not defined, the target device definition for the target device is created at the boot server. A bootstrap is executed at the target device, the bootstrap corresponding to the target definition. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for facilitating a PXE-compliant (Preboot Execution Environment) remote boot process between clients and multiple available servers on a network. Each server device can respond to a PXE-extended DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Request message from any client device on the network. Each client can receive responses from the alternate servers, select a server from one of those responses, and be directed by that response to complete the remote boot process from the same server. Each server also employs a self-throttling process to prevent the server from responding to new PXE-extended DHCP request messages from additional clients while the server has insufficient resources to remote boot additional clients with the required quality of service. This automatically redirects those additional clients to other servers that can provide the required quality of service without affecting the remote boot of clients already being serviced by the server.