With this method, configuration information is sent to the printer over the Ethernet or Token Ring connection via RARP or BOOTP, depending on which protocol your host supports. This is called Dynamic Address Resolution.
The advantage of server-based configuration is that it provides centralized administration. You can configure a number of printers from a central location. The disadvantage is that if the server is down, the printer does not appear on the network after a reset or power cycle, because the printer gets its boot information from a boot server and does not retain it in non-volatile memory.
Store the printer's configuration information on a boot server, in a configuration file such as an
ethers
or
bootptab
file. On power-up, the printer issues RARP and BOOTP requests and receives the configuration information from the server in the RARP or BOOTP response.
The RARP response contains only IP address information. After the printer has its address information, you can set other TCP/IP parameters by either of two methods:
NOTE
The printer's BOOTP and RARP implementations do not support booting across a router. The BOOTP or RARP server (host) and client (printer) must be connected to the same Token Ring or Ethernet segment, or to segments interconnected only by repeaters and/or bridges. However, with certain hosts (such as OS/2) on Token Ring networks, the server and the client must be on the same Token Ring. Furthermore, the printer's BOOTP and RARP implementations do not support booting between Token Ring and Ethernet segments.
