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A personal computer or workstationwhich has neither a hard disk nor floppy disk drive andwhich performs all file access via a local area networkconnection to a file server. The lowest level bootstrapcode is stored in non-volatile storage. This uses a simpleprotocol such as BOOTP to request and download moresophisticated boot code and eventually, the operatingsystem.The archtypal product was the 3Station developed by BobMetcalfe at 3Com. Another example was the Sun 3/50.Diskless workstations are ideal when many users are runningthe same application. They are small, quiet, more reliablethan products with disks, and help prevent both the theft ofdata and the introduction of viruses since the software anddata available on them is controlled by the networkadministrator or system administrator. They do however relyon a server which becomes a disadvantage if it is heavilyloaded or down.See also breath-of-life packet.