Configuring IP Addressing

IP Configuration

For more information on either of these procedures, refer to the documenta­ tion provided with the DHCP server.

Bootp Operation. When a Bootp server receives a request it searches its Bootp database for a record entry that matches the MAC address in the Bootp request from the switch. If a match is found, the configuration data in the associated database record is returned to the switch. For many Unix systems, the Bootp database is contained in the /etc/bootptab file. In contrast to DHCP operation, Bootp configurations are always the same for a specific receiving device. That is, the Bootp server replies to a request with a configuration previously stored in the server and designated for the requesting device.

Bootp Database Record Entries. A minimal entry in the Bootp table file /etc/bootptab to update an IP address and subnet mask to the switch or a VLAN configured in the switch would be similar to this entry:

j4108switch:\

ht=ether:\

ha=0030c1123456:\

ip=10.66.77.88:\

sm=255.255.248.0:\

gw=10.66.77.1:\

hn:\

vm=rfc1048

An entry in the Bootp table file /etc/bootptab to tell the switch or VLAN where to obtain a configuration file download would be similar to this entry:

j4108switch:\

ht=ether:\

ha=0030c1123456:\

ip=10.66.77.88:\

sm=255.255.248.0:\

gw=10.66.77.1:\

lg=10.22.33.44:\

T144=”switch.cfg”:\

vm=rfc1048

where:

j4108switch

is a user-defined symbolic name to help you find the correct section of the

 

bootptab file. If you have multiple switches that will be using Bootp to get their

 

IP configuration, you should use a unique symbolic name for each switch.

ht

is the “hardware type”. For the switches covered in this guide, set this to ether

 

(for Ethernet). This tag must precede the ha tag.

ha

is the “hardware address”. Use the switch's (or VLAN's) 12-digit MAC address.

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