A technique provisions a computerized device with a main operating system. The technique involves loading, while the computerized device operates as a preboot execution environment (PXE) protocol client, a limited boot image from a PXE server over a network (e.g., booting the limited boot image using the trivial file transfer protocol or TFTP). The technique further involves executing the limited boot image loaded from the PXE server to operate the computerized device as an advanced protocol provisioned client. The technique further involves downloading, while the computerized device executes the limited boot image to operate as the advanced protocol provisioned client, the main operating system into local memory from an operating system server over the network (e.g., booting the main operating system using the file transfer protocol or FTP). The computerized device may store a copy of the main operating system in a local non-volatile cache if available.