Oki ML421 Network User's Guide for OkiLAN 6020e - Page 142

Section 4 - Appendix B - Application Considerations Configuring the OkiLAN 6020e IP Address with RARP RARP is an acronym for Reverse Address Resolution Protocol. Every TCP/IP network device must have a unique 32-bit IP address. TCP/IP network devices will have both an IP address and a 48-bit Ethernet (network hardware) address. Ethernet addresses usually cannot be configured and are hard coded by the manufacturer of the device. RARP is a protocol used by devices that know their network hardware address, but do not know their IP address. When powering up on a network, a device that uses RARP will broadcast its network hardware address in a RARP request message. A RARP server (which may be a UNIX workstation) will respond with an IP address. The device will then know its IP address and use this address to perform subsequent TCP/IP transactions. Note: Once the OkiLAN 6020e has been assigned an IP address, the OkiLAN 6020e configuration utility (which is accessed by telneting to the OkiLAN 6020e) or OkiNet for TCP/IP will allow you to change and/or make the IP address permanent. This means that a RARP server needs to be available only during installation of the OkiLAN 6020e. Address Formats Network hardware addresses are 48-bits and are expressed in 6 bytes in hexadecimal format usually separated by colons. Each hexadecimal byte has a range from 00 to FF. Example: 00:02:16:17:50:A4 IP addresses are 32-bits and are expressed in 4 bytes in decimal format usually separated by periods. Each decimal byte has a range from 0 to 255. Example: 192:168:42:55 IV - 60 OKI OkiLAN 6020e User's Guide