Disclosed are various embodiments for a unified boot image that can be used to install an operating system onto a host machine and a respective operating system onto a data processing units (DPU) installed on a host machine. The unified boot image contains installation files for installing an operating system on the host machine and an installation depot that can be used to create a boot image for installing the same or different operating system on the DPU. During installation of an operating system on a host machine, the installation workflow can also require installation of an additional operating system or other configuration of a DPU installed in a host machine. In response to determining that an operating system is to be installed on the DPU, the installation depot can be obtained and reformatted into a downloadable format that is compatible with the DPU.