A method comprising: at a network device to manage multiple computers and connect the computers to boot devices that store boot programs used by the computers to boot: downloading to each computer a respective boot order that specifies an order in which the computer is to attempt to boot from boot devices specified in the boot order; automatically determining network paths over which each computer is to access the boot devices in the boot order for that computer; automatically determining an availability of each network path; automatically determining an availability of each boot device; automatically receiving boot status from each computer while the computer attempts to boot from boot devices in the boot order for that computer; and automatically performing boot-related actions based on the determined network path and boot device availabilities, and the received boot status, characterized in that automatically performing boot-related actions includes, for each computer: determining whether the computer is able to boot from any of the boot devices in the boot order for the computer based on the determined availabilities of the boot devices in the boot order, the determined availability of the network paths over which the computer accesses the boot devices in the boot order, and the received boot status; if it is determined that the computer is unable to boot from some boot devices but able to boot from other boot devices in the boot order for the computer: generating a new boot order for that computer that specifies only the other boot devices; and downloading the new boot order to the computer; and if it is determined that the computer is unable to boot from any of the boot devices in the boot order, instructing the computer not to boot. at a network device to manage multiple computers and connect the computers to boot devices that store boot programs used by the computers to boot: downloading to each computer a respective boot order that specifies an order in which the computer is to attempt to boot from boot devices specified in the boot order; automatically determining network paths over which each computer is to access the boot devices in the boot order for that computer; automatically determining an availability of each network path; automatically determining an availability of each boot device; automatically receiving boot status from each computer while the computer attempts to boot from boot devices in the boot order for that computer; and automatically performing boot-related actions based on the determined downloading to each computer a respective boot order that specifies an order in which the computer is to attempt to boot from boot devices specified in the boot order; automatically determining network paths over which each computer is to access the boot devices in the boot order for that computer; automatically determining an availability of each network path; automatically determining an availability of each boot device; automatically receiving boot status from each computer while the computer attempts to boot from boot devices in the boot order for that computer; and automatically performing boot-related actions based on the determined network path and boot device availabilities, and the received boot status, characterized in that automatically performing boot-related actions includes, for each computer: determining whether the computer is able to boot from any of the boot devices in the boot order for the computer based on the determined availabilities of the boot devices in the boot order, the determined availability of the network paths over which the computer accesses the boot devices in the boot order, and the received boot status; if it is determined that the computer is unable to boot from some boot devices but able to boot from other boot devices in the boot order for the computer: generating a new boot order for that computer that specifies only the other boot devices; and downloading the new boot order to the computer; and if it is determined that the computer is unable to boot from any of the boot devices in the boot order, instructing the computer not to boot. determining whether the computer is able to boot from any of the boot devices in the boot order for the computer based on the determined availabilities of the boot devices in the boot order, the determined availability of the network paths over which the computer accesses the boot devices in the boot order, and the received boot status; if it is determined that the computer is unable to boot from some boot devices but able to boot from other boot devices in the boot order for the computer: generating a new boot order for that computer that specifies only the other boot devices; and downloading the new boot order to the computer; and generating a new boot order for that computer that specifies only the other boot devices; and downloading the new boot order to the computer; and if it is determined that the computer is unable to boot from any of the boot devices in the boot order, instructing the computer not to boot.