BootP (Bootstrap Protocol)

This is an older protocol which allows user's machines to automatically retrieve necessary Internet configuration information from a centrally maintained server.  If supported, users should use the newer DHCP instead of BOOTP since it requires no manual intervention on anyone's part.

User Support will determine the machine's MAC address, building, and jack number and submit a request to Networking Administration for proper registration in the BOOTP server's tables.  After the table update is made and the machine is started, it will transmit a limited broadcast looking for any BOOTP server, which Missouri State University has two of.  The server will do a search based on the MAC address and transmit the IP configuration parameters that specific machine needs to communicate on a network.  These items include things such as default gateway address, subnet mask, and DNS addresses.

Networking Administration can make global changes to the BOOTP tables should any network infrastructure updates be made which would require changes to the client machines.   When this is done, the user need only reboot their machine and it will automatically obtain new addressing information which will allow it to function properly on the updated network.  This is a vast improvement over having to visit each individual machine and make changes.