ENWW TCP/IP Configuration 46
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.