Technical data

5.3.3 Relationship Between DHCP and BOOTP
From the client’s perspective, DHCP is an extension of the BOOTP functionality.
DHCP allows existing BOOTP clients to operate with DHCP servers without
having to change the client’s initialization software.
Based on the format of BOOTP messages, the DHCP message format does the
following:
• Captures the BOOTP relay agents and eliminates the need for a DHCP server
on each physical network segment.
• Allows existing BOOTP clients to operate with DHCP servers.
Messages that include a DHCP message-type option are assumed to have been sent
by a DHCP client. Messages without the DHCP message-type option are assumed
to have been sent by a BOOTP client.
DHCP improves the BOOTP-only functionality in the following ways:
• DHCP allows the serial reassignment of network addresses to different clients
by assigning a network address for a finite lease period.
• DHCP allows clients to acquire all of the IP configuration parameters they
need to operate.
_________________________ Note _________________________
BOOTP is considered older technology and many system administrators
are replacing it with DHCP.
5.3.4 Client ID
With BOOTP, a client is identified by its unique media access control (MAC)
address, which is associated with the network adapter card.
DHCP uses a client identifier (ID) to uniquely identify the client and to associate
it with a lease. The client creates the client ID from one of the following types
of addresses:
• The MAC address.
• A variation of the MAC address. For example, Windows clients create the client
ID by prepending the hardware type to the hardware address.
If the client does not include a client ID in the request, the server uses the client’s
MAC address.
5.4 File Transfer Services
TCP/IP Services includes the following components enable users to transfer data
files between local and remote hosts:
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol), which transfers files between hosts.
• Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), which downloads and transfers files.
• R commands, which copy files to or from remote hosts.
Network Server Services 5–9