A diskless host computer is automatically configured upon adding it to storage-area network (SAN). Upon physically connecting the diskless host computer to the network, the host computer alerts the network and a control station of its presence. A suitable identifier provided by the host, such as a Fibre Channel World Wide Name, is used to look up a configuration corresponding to a host of its type. Configurations corresponding to all types of hosts expected to be connected to the network are pre-stored in the SAN data storage system. Each configuration includes an operating system and can include any other software related to configuring or installing a new host. The control station then provides access to a storage device on which the operating system is stored so that the host can boot from it or access it for any other purposes.