In many typical application scenarios, both total bandwidth consumption and burst consumption would be expected to be less for an efficient thin client, than for a diskless node.
There are issues when it comes to diskless nodes, as the processing load is potentially much higher, thus meaning more consideration is required when purchasing.
The specific roles assumed by the server may vary, from providing data persistence (for example, for diskless nodes) to actual information processing on the client's behalf.
Advantages of diskless nodes can include lower production cost, lower running costs, quieter operation, and manageability advantages (for example, centrally managed software installation).
This method of booting can be used by routers, diskless workstations and centrally managed computers (thin clients) such as public computers at libraries and schools.
In principle, as many machines could be booted from one host as it could cope with; in practice, four diskless machines from one host was about the limit.