Need to boot several PCs into a rescue or backup environment without making a USB stick for each? AOMEI PXE Boot serves the image from a master computer, letting client PCs load a Linux or Windows PE environment for backup, restore, or maintenance.
How does network booting work?
Install AOMEI PXE Boot on a master PC, choose a boot image, and start the service. Client computers on the network then boot from that image after network boot is selected in their BIOS settings.
The image supplies a small operating environment for maintenance tasks. AOMEI PXE Boot supports Linux bootable ISOs and Windows PE bootable ISOs.
Which boot images can it load?
The boot environment is prepared separately, then selected in AOMEI PXE Boot. A Windows PE image can be made with AOMEI PE Builder or AOMEI Backupper; a Linux bootable image can be created with a third-party tool.
- Use Windows PE to access maintenance tools in a Windows environment.
- Load a Linux bootable ISO for a Linux-based boot environment.
What can clients do after booting?
Once a client starts from the shared image, its included tools can be used for system backup, restoration, and maintenance. Network boot gives administrators a way to start multiple PCs in that environment without preparing removable media for each one.
Pros
- Loads Linux and Windows PE bootable ISO images
- Starts client PCs from an image hosted on a master computer
- Supports network-based backup, restore, and system maintenance
Cons
- The boot image must be created separately
Do client computers need a USB drive or CD?
No. They boot over the network from the image hosted by the master computer.
What must be set on a client PC?
Enable or select network boot in the computer's BIOS boot settings.
Can AOMEI PXE Boot create the boot image?
The image is created separately. Windows PE images can be made with AOMEI PE Builder or AOMEI Backupper, and Linux images can be prepared with a third-party tool.
