System and method for enabling automated run-time input to network bootstrapping processes

A system and method are provided for enabling runtime parameter value input into a computer device during a network bootstrapping process. The system and method may use a memory block to store values needed at runtime that are ordinarily input by a user. A configuration file having one or more macros included may be stored at a TFTP server. A first bootstrap program is loaded on the computer device to initialize a memory block with the name of the configuration file to be used by the computer device during booting and the values for any macros included in the configuration file. The first bootstrap program then calls a second bootstrap program to parse the memory block and/or the configuration file in order to use the contents of the configuration file to boot the computer device. Using macros in the configuration files enable the same configuration file to be used by devices with differing booting needs.