Editing Booting (section)

=== Network booting ===
{{Main|Network booting}}

Most computers are also capable of booting over a [[computer network]]. In this scenario, the operating system is stored on the disk of a [[server (computing)|server]], and certain parts of it are transferred to the client using a simple protocol such as the [[Trivial File Transfer Protocol]] (TFTP). After these parts have been transferred, the operating system takes over the control of the booting process.

As with the second-stage boot loader, network booting begins by using generic network access methods provided by the network interface's boot ROM, which typically contains a [[Preboot Execution Environment]] (PXE) image. No drivers are required, but the system functionality is limited until the operating system kernel and drivers are transferred and started. As a result, once the ROM-based booting has completed it is entirely possible to network boot into an operating system that itself does not have the ability to use the network interface.