Typically a Linux-based thin client OS (such as Thinstation, Stratodesk NoTouch, or custom Debian) that is optimized to launch a VDI client (VMware Horizon, Citrix, RDP, or AVD).
The network automatically assigns an IP address to the diskless client and tells it where to find the boot server.
So, you successfully captured an 8GB RAM dump from a diskless Linux container. Now what? Volatility 3 and Rekall are your best friends.
What you can still recover (if you are fast): ccu diskless
What you cannot recover:
Reality Check: Memory analysis is messy. Strings are fragmented. Recovering a full file system from RAM is an art, not a science. Your CCU needs dedicated memory analysts, not just hard drive examiners.
#!ipxe
dhcp
kernel http://192.0.2.10/images/vmlinuz initrd=initramfs.img root=/dev/nfs nfsroot=192.0.2.20:/export/rootfs ip=dhcp
initrd http://192.0.2.10/images/initramfs.img
boot
Before understanding "diskless," we must understand the hardware. A CCU, or Cloud Client Unit, is a lightweight endpoint device. Unlike a traditional PC, a CCU is not designed to run heavy operating systems locally. Instead, it acts as a portal to a centralized server. Typically a Linux-based thin client OS (such as
Common examples include:
Traditionally, CCUs might have a small SSD or eMMC to hold a local OS. However, CCU Diskless removes that local storage entirely.
A diskless CCU relies on three core technologies: What you cannot recover:
To the average user, "diskless" might mean a thin client or a Chromebook. To a CCU operator, "diskless" is a security mechanism designed explicitly to defeat traditional forensic acquisition.
Diskless Architecture refers to a computing environment where the operating system, applications, and user data are not stored on local persistent storage (SSD/HDD). Instead, the machine boots from a network image (PXE/iSCSI) or operates entirely within volatile memory (RAM).
The Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server hosts the bootloader, kernel, and initial RAM disk. For more advanced setups, iSCSI (Internet Small Computer Systems Interface) allows the CCU to treat network storage as if it were a local hard drive—without actually having one.