[248] in Resnet-Forum
Bootp Concerns
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steve Morytko)
Mon Apr 18 16:10:25 1994
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 94 15:37:06 EDT
From: Steve Morytko <STEVE@UConnVM.UConn.Edu>
To: resnet-forum@MIT.EDU
>
>You don't need a stable unchanging IP address if you are using BOOTP and
>the DNS. That's the beauty of using BOOTP to support multiple IP addresses
>for a single host. The "identity" of a machine is based on Ethernet
>address (always unique) which then gets assigned a stable hostname which is
>associated with perhaps changing IP address.
>
>We have provided support for this (in a limited way) in our campus BOOTP
>server. Do the Penn folks support a single hostname no matter where the
>machine gets plugged in?
I have to say that BOOTP sounds interesting but I've resisted using
it here because of some unanswered questions and concerns like:
1. Since most of the software we use is either shareware or freeware
can I *expect* BOOTP support for all or most desirable software? Can
anyone think of notable exceptions that do NOT support BOOTP (on
any platform - Mac, PC, UNIX, ...)? Today we mostly use CUTCP, NCSA,
MacTCP, and we're starting to use WINSOCK apps. Any problems there?
2. I don't want to have to put a BOOTP server on every subnet so do
all routers pass BOOTP with no problems? We have mostly Wellfleet
or Novell today but that might change.
3. Is one able to specify backup BOOTP servers from every platform?
I don't remember seeing this option in CUTCP's CONFIG.TEL or any
other one either.
Of course, if there are any other considerations or constraints I'd
like to hear about them.
This is a strategic decision because once in place it might be hard to
change/remove and I don't want to find out about some problem later.
Thanks for all comments.
======================================================================
Steve Morytko, University of Connecticut Computer Center
E-mail: steve@uconnvm.uconn.edu ; Ph: 203-486-1405 ; Fax: 203-486-5744
USMail; 196 Auditorium Rd., Storrs, CT 06269-3138
