Preboot Execution Environment

In computing, the Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE; often pronounced as /ˈpɪksiː/ pixie), often called PXE boot (pixie boot), is a specification describing a standardized client–server environment that boots a software assembly, retrieved from a network, on PXE-enabled clients. On the client side it requires only a PXE-capable network interface controller (NIC), and uses a small set of industry-standard network protocols such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP).

The concept behind the PXE originated in the early days of protocols like BOOTP/DHCP/TFTP, and as of 2015^[update] it forms part of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) standard. In modern data centers, PXE is the most frequent choice^[1] for operating system booting, installation and deployment.

^ Avramov, Lucien (December 31, 2014). The Policy Driven Data Center with ACI: Architecture, Concepts, and Methodology. Cisco Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-1587144905. In modern data centers, administrators rarely install new software via removable media such as DVDs. Instead, administrators rely on PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) booting to image servers.

[pxespread-1] Avramov, Lucien (December 31, 2014). The Policy Driven Data Center with ACI: Architecture, Concepts, and Methodology. Cisco Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-1587144905. In modern data centers, administrators rarely install new software via removable media such as DVDs. Instead, administrators rely on PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) booting to image servers.

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