Configuring the BOOTP Server
For the HP Jetdirect print server to obtain its configuration data over the network, the BOOTP/TFTP servers must be set up with the appropriate configuration files. BOOTP is used by the print server to obtain entries in the /etc/bootptab file on a BOOTP server, while TFTP is used to obtain additional configuration information from a configuration file on a TFTP server.
When the HP Jetdirect print server is powered on, it broadcasts a BOOTP request that contains its MAC (hardware) address. A BOOTP server daemon searches the /etc/bootptab file for a matching MAC address, and if successful, sends the corresponding configuration data to the Jetdirect print server as a BOOTP reply. The configuration data in the /etc/bootptab file must be properly entered. For a description of entries, see “Bootptab File Entries”.
The BOOTP reply may contain the name of a configuration file containing enhanced configuration parameters. If the HP Jetdirect print server finds such a file, it will use TFTP to download the file and configure itself with these parameters. For a description of entries, see “TFTP Configuration File Entries“. Configuration parameters retrieved through TFTP are optional.
Note | HP recommends that the BOOTP server be located |
| on the same subnet as the printers it serves. |
| BOOTP broadcast packets may not be |
| forwarded by routers unless the routers are |
| properly configured. |
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ENWW | TCP/IP Configuration 42 |