What is BootP?

BOOTP, short for Bootstrap Protocol, is a protocol used to allow an Ethernet network device to obtain an IP Address over the network. 

A device that wants to obtain an IP address broadcasts a BootP request that identifies the device by it’s  MAC address, an identifying six octet number ( ex: 00:A0:45:08:CD:8D) that is uniquely assigned to a device by its manufacturer. A BootP server on the network, sees the request and sends a BootP reply containing a desired IP address (ex: 192.168.1.10) to the device, thereby making it now become accessible to higher level network communications using that IP address. 

For Industrial Ethernet, MAC addresses serve as the basis of networking in order to establishing communication and direct data traffic. This level of communications is referred to as “layer 2” in the OSI model. IP addresses are assigned to devices (and switches) to support the “higher layer” protocols that are used produce complex, functioning networks.  After being assigned an IP address, a managed switch can now be accessed, configured and monitored for remote diagnostics via a standard Web-browser. In addition, the switch will now respond to standard networking diagnostic tests such as “pinging”.  A switch without an IP address cannot provide this very simple, but powerful network diagnostic capability.

To avoid potential duplicate IP address confusion, Phoenix Contact managed switches ship without an IP address.  Assigning an IP address via BootP is quick and easy with Phoenix Contact’s freeware IPAssign tool.

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