RFC 1542 (rfc1542) - Page 1 of 23
Clarifications and Extensions for the Bootstrap Protocol
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group W. Wimer
Request for Comments: 1542 Carnegie Mellon University
Updates: 951 October 1993
Obsoletes: 1532
Category: Standards Track
Clarifications and Extensions for the Bootstrap Protocol
Status of this Memo
This RFC specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" for the standardization state and status
of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
Some aspects of the BOOTP protocol were rather loosely defined in its
original specification. In particular, only a general description
was provided for the behavior of "BOOTP relay agents" (originally
called BOOTP forwarding agents"). The client behavior description
also suffered in certain ways. This memo attempts to clarify and
strengthen the specification in these areas. Due to some errors
introduced into RFC 1532 in the editorial process, this memo is
reissued as RFC 1542.
In addition, new issues have arisen since the original specification
was written. This memo also attempts to address some of these.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction................................................. 2
1.1 Requirements................................................ 3
1.2 Terminology................................................. 3
1.3 Data Transmission Order..................................... 4
2. General Issues............................................... 5
2.1 General BOOTP Processing.................................... 5
2.2 Definition of the 'flags' Field............................. 5
2.3 Bit Ordering of Hardware Addresses.......................... 7
2.4 BOOTP Over IEEE 802.5 Token Ring Networks................... 8
3. BOOTP Client Behavior........................................ 9
3.1 Client use of the 'flags' field............................. 9
3.1.1 The BROADCAST flag........................................ 9
3.1.2 The remainder of the 'flags' field........................ 9
3.2 Definition of the 'secs' field.............................. 10
3.3 Use of the 'ciaddr' and 'yiaddr' fields..................... 10
Wimer
