Thank you to everyone for their answer.

It sounds like the safest route is for me to build a small computer to
handle the role of fileserver.

The last time I built a cluster I know I could PXE boot the terminals, but
as I recall I set up the auth and fileservers using a CD.

Is it possible and straightforward to use PXE boot to set up the fileserver
installation as well?  E.g., PXE boot a server and then run the installation
and configuration for a fileserver over the network?

Jim