A computer attached to a LAN that has neither hard nor diskette drives, depending instead on the file server for all data storage.
A computer workstation with its own processor, keyboard, graphics system and monitor but no local disk system. The system relies on disk resources which are found in the network either on a dedicated server or shared over the entire network resources.
a workstation that is connected to a network, but has no hard disk
A PC or workstation attached to a LAN that has neither floppy nor hard disks, but relies on disk storage provided by a file server attached to the same LAN. When the diskless workstation is first initialized it uses a remote boot program stored in a remote boot prom/eprom on its network adapter card to initialize a session with the file server. The workstation then loads its operating system, such as MS-Dos, from the server and executes the normal server login procedure.
Personal computer system without a floppy disk drive. A diskless workstation is always connected to another computer, which handles data and program storage but has a hard disk drive for booting.
A networked computer that does not have any local disk storage capability. The computer boots and loads all its programs from the network file server. Diskless workstations are particularly valuable when sensitive information is processed because information can’t be copied from the file server onto a local disk.
A diskless workstation is a workstation or personal computer without any means of non-volatile storage (hence "diskless"); although non-volatile solid state media is not a true "disk/disc". Not to be confused with terminals or cut-down PCs acting as such, a diskless workstation is intended to run in a fully "stand-alone" mode after the initial boot phase. It thus runs a full modern operating system from its own local RAM.