Boot media is used to boot a client and provide the shared resource tree or the resources to mount a shared resource tree. The boot media contains a small runtime environment that includes a kernel, a RAM file system, libraries, and programs. The client system firmware boots the kernel from the media. CD boot media also contains a shared resource tree.

If you use media to boot the client system, you must use BMR to prepare the appropriate boot media. You can prepare boot media at any time before the restore. However, a prerequisite is that the shared resource tree for the protected system must exist.

Boot media is created from the resources that are stored in an SRT. The boot media must be compatible with the commands and libraries in the SRT and the client.

A legacy boot floppy uses a version of DOS to start networking services and to copy the files that are needed for a restore environment. The SRT on the boot server sends these to the client being restored. Boot floppies can be fully customized (automated) for a specific BMR client or they can be generic and prompt for information at restore time. At initial creation time, customized floppies may be archived on the master server for quicker re-creation later.