此文转自 http://etherboot.org/dokuwiki-2009-02-14/aoe 的部分内容，最后修改日期为：2007/03/15 16:57

New Operating systems, like Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003 require a more in-depth hard disk environment.

In contrast to the default EtherBoot supported protocols the ATA over Ethernet specification additionally provides/emulates all necessary components for Operating Systems which require an in-depth hard disk / hard disk controller environment[…]

Chart / Diagram

Directory or hard disk (or hard disk p_w_picpath) containg an installed Operating System

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AoE Server

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| ⇐ network connection
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Client

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EtherBoot binary with AoE support

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Boot priority set to "EtherBoot" in the BIOS setup menu

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EtherBoot with AoE support will be used as boot device

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EtherBoot with AoE support provides in-depth hard disk environment and loads the Operating System from the harddisk from the AoE Server.