Technical data

Configuring BOOTP
9.1 Key Concepts
• Name and size of the client’s system load file
• IP address of the TFTP server storing this file
• IP addresses of the hosts offering common network services, such as a log
server or a print (LPD) server.
5. When the client receives the configuration information in the BOOTP
response, it sends a request to the TFTP server host named in the response.
This request is necessary only if the client must retrieve the load file.
6. If the client sends a read request (RRQ) to the TFTP server, it attempts to
locate this file. If it finds the file, the server transfers it to the client.
9.2 BOOTP Planning and Preconfiguration Tasks
When planning BOOTP, you need to make decisions about the network
configuration and the local BOOTP service.
9.2.1 Network Configuration Decisions
Before you start to set up BOOTP, answer the following questions:
• What clients will access the BOOTP server? For each client, obtain the
following information:
System image and location from where it can be copied
Additional information requested
Hardware address
IP address
• What hosts in your network will run the BOOTP server?
• Will gateways be used for downloading? Gateways let you specify a specific
path for the data transfer.
• Do you want to limit client access to specific server directories?
9.2.2 BOOTP Service Decisions
Before you start to configure BOOTP, consider the following:
• Default priority for the TCPIP$BOOTP server account in the user
authorization file (UAF)
For optimal performance, use the default priority level for the TCPIP$BOOTP
user account.
In a large or active subnetwork, clients might generate several broadcast
requests per minute. The server continues to process all incoming requests,
even those for which it lacks information in its database.
In most cases, all this processing does not create system performance
problems. However, it does use, perhaps unnecessarily, system resources. A
different network configuration might avoid wasted system overhead.
• Segmented subnetworks
To reduce large volumes of BOOTP request traffic to a specific server, segment
very large subnetworks with filtering bridges.
9–2 Configuring BOOTP