Difference between BOOTP and RARP in Computer Networking

Hello everyone. Today we are here for learning about differences between BOOTP and RARP in Computer Networking. Before learning about the differences, we need know about them. So, now let us learn about BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) and RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) in separate and also in detail.

The BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) and RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) are required because they mainly help us to connect to devices. They also help us to communicate between two or more devices or workstations. Regardless of differences in their working the reason why we use Network Protocols are they help us to communicate with people who may be anywhere in the world. Thus, these protocols play an important role in modern digital communications.

Important Abbreviations

1. RARP - - - - > Reverse Address Resolution Protocol
2. BOOTP - - - - > Bootstrap Protocol
3. MAC - - - - > Medium Access Control
4. IP - - - - > Internet Protocol
5. DHCP - - - - > Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
6. NIC - - - - > Network Interface Card
7. UDP - - - - > User Datagram Protocol
8. LAN - - - - > Large Area Network
9. TCP / IP - - - - > Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol
10. IPv4 - - - - > Internet Protocol version 4
11. BIOS - - - - > Basic Input / Output System

Now let us learn about RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)

RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)

RARP is also known as Reverse Address Resolution Protocol. This protocol is used in Computer Networking. This is used by an employee who is using a computer owned by the client. They are using it request or get the Internet Protocol (IP) Address from cache or gateway server Address Resolution Protocol Table. RARP is used to find logical address of a machine which only has its own physical address. This logical address is differs from one machine to other machine. These logical addresses are never same and they never depend on machine hardware parts. The Internet Protocol (IP) Address is known from the file configuration present on a disk file.

This protocol is used to transmit data between two server-side sites. The client does not necessary need to be aware of the identity of the server before making a request. Administrators must configure each server individually for Medium Access Control (MAC) addresses. RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) is very useful for providing IP addresses.

The RARP client application requests an IP (Internet Protocol) address from the RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) server on the router when a replacement machine is set up since the machine may or may not have an associated disc that may permanently retain the IP Address. In the event that a router table entry has been configured, the RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) server will send the machine's IP address.

The device can learn its physical address, which is specific to the area (by reading its NIC (Network Interface Card , for instance). The RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) protocol may then be used to obtain the logical address using the physical address. On the local network, a RARP request is generated and broadcast.

An additional device on the local network that is aware of every IP address will reply with a RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) answer. A RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) client software must be running on the requesting system; the RARP server software must be running on the replying system.

Broadcasting occurs at the data connection layer, which is a severe flaw with RARP. The Physical broadcast addresses do not cross network borders, as is the case with Ethernet.

History of RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)

The Reverse Address Resolution Protocol was initialized in the year 1984. This Reverse Address Resolution Protocol is the protocol which is used to give the Internet Protocol (IP) Address to the server or desktop or computer etc. These server or desktop or computer etc can all be simply called as workstations.

So, the simple diskless workstations are also the platform for the primary workstations from the company named Sun Microsystems.

Working of RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)

The Reverse Address Resolution Protocol is used to transfer data between two sources or two client servers on the Network Access Layer. The sources have two different addresses. They are Internet Protocol (IP) Address and Media Access Control (MAC) Address.

The MAC address is then pre-programmed into the hardware once the IP address has been assigned by software.

The RARP server, which responds to RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) requests, can be any standard computer that is connected to the network. However, it must record all MAC (Media Access Control) addresses and the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that correspond to them. The network can only reply to RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) queries from these RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) servers. It is necessary to send the data packet through relatively low-cost network tiers. This means that each participant receives the package at the same time.

Advantages of RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)

The Advantages are:

1. RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) is avails oneself for changing Ethernet Address to a simple Internet Protocol (IP) Address.
2. It is useful for Large Area Networks (LAN) derived technologies.

Disadvantages of RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)

The Disadvantages are

1. RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) server should always be situated at the same physical network
2. RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) cannot configure the Computer of a very modern network.
3. The computer uses a very fundamental network layer to transmit the RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) A router cannot transmit the packet because the computer sends the RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) request on the network's most fundamental layer.
4. The RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) is unable to control the sub netting process since no subnet masks are transmitted. If the network includes more than one subnet, each subnet must have access to a RARP server
5. It doesn't fully use the potential of an Ethernet-style network.

These are reasons why The RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) is not widely used now. The RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) has been replaced. It is replaced by Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Now, let us know why RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) is obsolete

Why is RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) is obsolete ?

Here, obsolete means no longer useful. We already know that the RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) has been replaced. It was replaced by Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Let us know in detail why was it replaced.

Actually RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) is widely used on Ethernet services. They were also extensively used in Token Rings Large Area Networks. RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) is created for sending or providing Internet Protocol (IP) Address for other devices.

As RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) was created to solely deliver Internet Protocol (IP) address information to devices that are either not statically allocated an Internet Protocol (IP) address or lack the internal storage space to keep one locally, it only provides a minimal service. From a Large Area Network (LAN) access standpoint, Bootstrap Protocol and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol have essentially replaced RARP. Both protocols are more feature-rich and scale well on contemporary Large Area Networks (LANs) with several IP subnets.

However, RARP has returned to the workplace thanks to server and data center virtualization. For example, a crucial feature utilized for high-availability in the virtual machine is the capability to immediately shift a virtual server from one physical host to another, either inside the same physical data center or in another data center (VM).

BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol)

BOOTP is also known as Bootstrap Protocol. This Protocol is used in Computer Networking. Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) is a protocol. This protocol works on the basis of internet. So, this is the reason why it is called as an Internet Protocol (IP). This is used for allowing the network user to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) Address. The network user immediately configures the received Internet Protocol (IP) Address. This lets the Booting of an Operating System to happen without external involvement or user collusion.

The BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) requires a server to be executed. This server will be taken care by an Network Admin. This server is used for allowing the network user to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) Address. The network user immediately configures the received Internet Protocol (IP) Address. This lets the Booting of an Operating System to happen without external involvement or user collusion.

History of BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol)

The BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) was actually introduced in 1985 because of Request for Comments 951 (also known as RFC 951) to replace Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP). This Protocol requires servers to be present on the every server Internet Protocol (IP) Address. By using BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) , a central BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) server can exist for many sub nets.

Today, BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) is carried out via User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which forms the basis for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers handle client requests.

Features of BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol)

1. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) is a dynamic protocol.
2. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) is also known as a basic protocol
3. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) job is to create an unique Internet Protocol (IP) address for recognition and corroboration as soon as it is connected to the network. The BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) is very helpful as it speeds up the data transfer and connection requests.
4. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) is an unique Internet Protocol (IP) algorithm. This algorithm helps in providing and creating new Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses and they are completely different and they also have no link between the previous created Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses. The Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses are created very fast in a fraction of second.
5. This algorithm also helps to reduce the time required which is required for connection for source server and the client server.
6. Now, the main and important processes like downloading and changing the already present values or codes are done. Even the small processes are also updated so that they would never cause problems in the near future.
7. The BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) connection requires Internet Protocol (IP) Address are required for the client server and the source server and they require a gateway address for get going of successful connection. In BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) Network the client and the source server use the same Large Area Network (LAN) , and the routers must support BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) So , for that routers are always kept under same networks
8. A great example of a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) based network is the BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) network. To quickly respond to each request a computer on the network makes to the server, BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) utilizes its own IP address.

Working of BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol)

The BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) works in this manner:

1. Actually new network participant will not have an Internet Protocol (IP) Address. Then, the Network Admin who is the administrator of BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) gives access to the new network participant to host server. Now, the new network participant get a distinct or idiosyncratic Internet Protocol (IP) Address via IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) protocol.
2. The client or the new network participant installs the new BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) using TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) mode. This mode arbitration on the user workstation to ensure affinity with all the network protocols when connected to the certain network.
3. An appropriate unicast address is then included in a message that is sent by the BOOTP network administrator. The master server then forwards this unicast address to the BOOTP client.

Uses of BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol)

The uses are:

1. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) is required for system check purpose. The System is checked for a network when the computer is turned on
2. The motherboard and network management are able to efficiently organize the data transfer on the device as soon as it lights up since each computer on the network maintains track of its BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) cycle.
3. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) is highly used for the support of usage of motherboards and mangers which work on Network. So, because of this protocol no other means storage is required other than cloud network.
4. In order to send and receive requests and the networking server's suitable responses, a client and a server communicate using BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol).
5. BOOTP is typically used in a diskless environment and requires no media because all data is kept in the network cloud for effective utilization.

Disadvantages of BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol)

The disadvantages are

1. They do not have the concept of temporary Internet Protocol (IP) Addressing.
2. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) can also have irresolvable errors because of its configuration. This is because their configuration is manual.
3. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) does not support DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
4. BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) cannot function for mobile phones and movable machines.

Difference between BOOTP and RARP in computer networking

This all about the RARP , BOOTP , and their differences in Computer Networks.