BOOTPcompatible

BOOTP-compatible refers to devices, software, or configurations that implement the Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) and can interoperate with other BOOTP-enabled equipment. BOOTP is a simple network protocol introduced in the 1980s to boot diskless workstations by providing an IP address and boot file name over the network. A BOOTP-compatible system can act as either a BOOTP server or a BOOTP client, depending on its role in the boot process.

In operation, BOOTP uses UDP for transport, typically with server-side messages on port 67 and client messages on port 68. A BOOTP client sends a boot request containing hardware address and basic identifiers; a BOOTP server replies with a boot reply that includes the assigned IP address (yiaddr), gateway (siaddr or giaddr), and the boot file name (file). The reply may also carry vendor-specific information in the options field. Unlike DHCP, BOOTP does not define a comprehensive lease mechanism or a wide set of configuration options, though some implementations extended the scheme.

DHCP, the successor to BOOTP, is designed as an extension of BOOTP and is generally backward compatible. Many DHCP servers offer a BOOTP compatibility mode, allowing legacy BOOTP clients to obtain addressing information from a modern server. Conversely, BOOTP-compatible clients can cooperate with DHCP servers that support BOOTP requests, though they may receive fewer dynamic options than DHCP-enabled clients.

Today, BOOTP-compatible systems are most commonly associated with legacy network booting and certain embedded or legacy environments. In contemporary networks, DHCP has largely supplanted BOOTP, but the concept of compatibility remains important for interoperability with older equipment.