bootpd, bootpgw -- Internet Boot Protocol server/gateway
bootpd [-i] [-s] [-t timeout] [-d level] [-c chdir-path] [bootptab
[dumpfile]]
bootpgw [-i] [-s] [-t timeout] [-d level] server
The bootpd utility implements an Internet Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP)
server as defined in RFC951, RFC1532, and RFC1533. The bootpgw utility
implements a simple BOOTP gateway which can be used to forward requests
and responses between clients on one subnet and a BOOTP server (i.e.
bootpd) on another subnet. While either bootpd or bootpgw will forward
BOOTREPLY packets, only bootpgw will forward BOOTREQUEST packets.
One host on each network segment is normally configured to run either
bootpd or bootpgw from inetd(8) by including one of the following lines
in the file /etc/inetd.conf:
bootps dgram udp wait root /usr/libexec/bootpd bootpd /etc/bootptab
bootps dgram udp wait root /usr/libexec/bootpgw bootpgw server
This mode of operation is referred to as "inetd mode" and causes bootpd
(or bootpgw) to be started only when a boot request arrives. If it does
not receive another packet within fifteen minutes of the last one it
received, it will exit to conserve system resources. The -t option controls
this timeout (see OPTIONS).
It is also possible to run bootpd (or bootpgw) in "standalone mode"
(without inetd(8)) by simply invoking it from a shell like any other regular
command. Standalone mode is particularly useful when bootpd is used
with a large configuration database, where the start up delay might otherwise
prevent timely response to client requests. (Automatic start up
in standalone mode can be done by invoking bootpd from within
/etc/rc.local, for example.) Standalone mode is less useful for bootpgw
which has very little start up delay because it does not read a configuration
file.
Either program automatically detects whether it was invoked from inetd or
from a shell and automatically selects the appropriate mode. The -s or
-i option may be used to force standalone or inetd mode respectively (see
OPTIONS).
The following options are available:
-t timeout
Specify the timeout value (in minutes) that a bootpd or bootpgw
process will wait for a BOOTP packet before exiting. If no packets
are received for timeout minutes, then the program will exit.
A timeout value of zero means "run forever". In standalone mode,
this option is forced to zero.
-d debug-level
Set the debug-level variable that controls the amount of debugging
messages generated. For example, -d4 or -d 4 will set the
debugging level to 4. For compatibility with older versions of
bootpd, omitting the numeric parameter (i.e. just -d) will simply
increment the debug level by one.
-c chdir-path
Set the current directory used by bootpd while checking the existence
and size of client boot files. This is useful when client
boot files are specified as relative pathnames, and bootpd needs
to use the same current directory as the TFTP server (typically
/tftpboot). This option is not recognized by bootpgw.
-i Force inetd mode. This option is obsolete, but remains for compatibility
with older versions of bootpd.
-s Force standalone mode. This option is obsolete, but remains for
compatibility with older versions of bootpd.
bootptab
Specify the name of the configuration file from which bootpd
loads its database of known clients and client options (bootpd
only).
dumpfile
Specify the name of the file that bootpd will dump its internal
database into when it receives a SIGUSR1 signal (bootpd only).
This option is only recognized if bootpd was compiled with the
-DDEBUG flag.
server Specify the name of a BOOTP server to which bootpgw will forward
all BOOTREQUEST packets it receives (bootpgw only).
Both bootpd and bootpgw operate similarly in that both listen for any
packets sent to the bootps port, and both simply forward any BOOTREPLY
packets. They differ in their handling of BOOTREQUEST packets.
When bootpgw is started, it determines the address of a BOOTP server
whose name is provided as a command line parameter. When bootpgw
receives a BOOTREQUEST packet, it sets the "gateway address" and "hop
count" fields in the packet and forwards the packet to the BOOTP server
at the address determined earlier. Requests are forwarded only if they
indicate that the client has been waiting for at least three seconds.
When bootpd is started it reads a configuration file, (normally
/etc/bootptab) that initializes the internal database of known clients
and client options. This internal database is reloaded from the configuration
file when bootpd receives a hangup signal (SIGHUP) or when it discovers
that the configuration file has changed.
When bootpd receives a BOOTREQUEST packet, it looks for a database entry
matching the client request. If the client is known, bootpd composes a
BOOTREPLY packet using the database entry found above, and sends the
reply to the client (possibly using a gateway). If the client is
unknown, the request is discarded (with a notice if debug > 0).
If bootpd is compiled with the -DDEBUG option, receipt of a SIGUSR1 signal
causes it to dump its internal database to the file /tmp/bootpd.dump
or the dumpfile specified as a command line parameter.
During initialization, both programs determine the UDP port numbers to be
used by calling getservbyname(3) (which normally uses /etc/services).
Two service names (and port numbers) are used:
bootps BOOTP Server listening port
bootpc BOOTP Client destination port
If the port numbers cannot be determined using getservbyname(3) then the
values default to bootps=67 and bootpc=68.
/etc/bootptab Database file read by bootpd.
/tmp/bootpd.dump Debugging dump file created by bootpd.
/etc/services Internet service numbers.
/tftpboot Current directory typically used by the TFTP server and
bootpd.
Individual host entries must not exceed 1024 characters.
This distribution is currently maintained by Walter L. Wimer
<walt+@cmu.edu>.
The original BOOTP server was created by Bill Croft at Stanford University
in January 1986.
The current version of bootpd is primarily the work of David Kovar, Drew
D. Perkins, and Walter L. Wimer, at Carnegie Mellon University.
Enhancements and bug-fixes have been contributed by:
(in alphabetical order)
Danny Backx <db@sunbim.be>
John Brezak <brezak@ch.hp.com>
Frank da Cruz <fdc@cc.columbia.edu>
David R. Linn <drl@vuse.vanderbilt.edu>
Jim McKim <mckim@lerc.nasa.gov>
Gordon W. Ross <gwr@mc.com>
Jason Zions <jazz@hal.com>.
bootptab(5), inetd(8), tftpd(8)
DARPA Internet Request For Comments:
RFC951 Bootstrap Protocol
RFC1532 Clarifications and Extensions for the Bootstrap Protocol
RFC1533 DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor Extensions
FreeBSD 5.2.1 November 6, 1993 FreeBSD 5.2.1 [ Back ] | 