A management node of a server maintains a database of configuration parameters that stores the individual configuration parameters for each compute node. In response to a boot request at a compute node, a configuration parameter control module at the node intercepts locally targeted requests to load configuration parameters. The configuration parameter module sends the requests to the management node and in response the management node sends configuration parameters responsive to the requests. The configuration parameter module provides the configuration parameters to the compute node, thereby emulating a local boot memory for the compute node.