DRBL

DRBL stands for Diskless Remote Boot Linux, a software framework that enables network booting and operation of client computers from a central server. It allows diskless or lightly equipped clients to boot Linux systems over the network, running entirely from server-provided images without local installations. The project is maintained by the National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC) in Taiwan and is released under the GPL.

DRBL uses standard network boot infrastructure (DHCP, TFTP, and NFS or iSCSI/nbd) to boot clients via PXE. The server hosts bootloaders and kernel/initramfs, and exports a root filesystem to clients. Client machines obtain an IP and boot a kernel that mounts its root from the server. DRBL provides tools to create and manage client images, and can integrate with Clonezilla for imaging and deployment.

DRBL supports a range of Linux distributions and can support unmanaged clients in classrooms, labs, libraries, and help desks. It reduces the need for local storage, simplifies software updates and backups, and enables rapid replacement of failed machines. DRBL can operate in diskless mode or in mixed mode where clients boot from the network but still use local storage for user data.

Setting up a DRBL server requires a Linux server with DHCP, TFTP, and NFS services. The DRBL suite provides commands such as drblsrv to install and manage server services and drblpush to create and distribute client images. Because client boot times depend on network, reliable LAN and server hardware are recommended.