In a software partition (SWPAR) environment, a method, system and computer program product enables a SWPAR to be remotely booted, independent of the booting of the OS on the global system environment, using network file system (NFS) services and protocols. A request to mount a NFS, hosted by an external server into a SWPAR environment is transmitted. The NFS services are automatically transitioning to a first operating state that enables support for user-level NFS services without requiring the NFS services be active. The SWPAR is automatically booted and access to the SWPAR provided during operation of the NFS services in the first operating state. Once the SWPAR has completed booting, the NFS services is transitioned back to a normal operating state in which SWPAR operates as a standalone device providing its own user-level NFS services.