Bootstrap Protocol

In computing, Bootstrap Protocol, or "BOOTP", is a UDP network protocol used by a network client to obtain its IP address automatically. This is usually done during the bootstrap process when a computer is starting up. The BOOTP servers assign the IP address to each client from a pool of addresses. The BOOTP protocol was originally defined in RFC 951.

BOOTP enables 'diskless workstation' computers to obtain an IP address prior to loading an advanced operating system.Historically, it has been used for Unix-like diskless workstations (which also obtained the location of their boot image using this protocol) and also by corporations to roll out a pre-configured client (e.g. Windows) installation to newly purchased PCs.

Originally requiring the use of a boot floppy disk to establish the initial network connection, the protocol became embedded in the BIOS of some network cards themselves (such as 3c905c) and also in many modern motherboards thus allowing direct network booting.

Recently, those with an interest in diskless stand-alone media centre PCs have shown new interest in this method of booting a Windows operating system. [Personal Computer World, Feb 2005, pg 156 'Putting the Boot in']

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a more advanced protocol based on BOOTP, but is far more complex to implement. Most DHCP servers also offer BOOTP support.

References

ee also

* Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
* Preboot Execution Environment (PXE)

External links

* [http://www.eventhelix.com/RealtimeMantra/Networking/Bootp.pdf BOOTP Sequence Diagram] (PDF)
* [http://mbootp.sourceforge.net/ Multicast BOOTP for configuring a network device from a workstation]
* [http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc951.html RFC951]