HP J7949E manual Configuring the Bootp Server, HP recommends that the Bootp server be located

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.

ENWW TCP/IP Configuration 38