NAME

bootpgw − Internet Bootp Protocol gateway

SYNOPSIS

/usr/sbin/bootpgw [-d level] [-t timeout] [-h hopcount]
[-w waittime] server [server ...]

FLAGS

-d debug-level
Sets the debug-level variable that controls the number of debugging messages generated.  For example, -d 4 sets the debugging level to 4. 

-t timeout
Specifies the timeout value (in minutes) that the bootpgw process waits for a BOOTP packet before exiting.  If no packets are received for timeout seconds, then the program exits.  A timeout value of zero means run forever.  When the bootpgw daemon is not started using the inetd daemon, this option is forced to 0. 

-h hopcount
Sets the maximum hop count a bootp request can contain for this bootpgw daemon to forward the packet.  The default is 4. 

-w waittime
Specifies the minimum wait time in seconds.  Requests are forwarded only if the client has been waiting for at least the specified time. The default value is 0.

serverSpecifies the name or IP address of a bootp server to which the bootpgw forwards bootp requests. 

DESCRIPTION

The bootpgw daemon implements a simple BOOTP gateway that can be used to forward requests and responses between clients and BOOTP servers (for example, bootpd) on different subnets. 

The bootpgw is usually started by the /usr/sbin/inetd daemon by specifying the following line in the /etc/inetd.conf file:

bootps dgram udp wait root /usr/sbin/bootpgw bootpgw server

Note that server specifies the name or IP address of a bootp server to which the bootpgw forwards bootp requests. 

You may not have the bootpd daemon and the bootpgw daemon running on the same system, because they listen on the same bootps port. 

When the bootpgw daemon is started, it determines the address of a BOOTP server whose name is provided as a command line parameter.  When the bootpgw daemon receives a BOOTREQUEST packet, it sets the gateway address and hop count fields in the packet and forwards it to the BOOTP server at the address determined earlier. 

The the bootpgw daemon looks in the /etc/services file to find the port numbers it should use.  The following two entries are extracted:

bootpsThe bootp server listening port. 

bootpcThe destination port used to reply to clients.  If the port numbers cannot be determined this way, they are assumed to be 67 for the server and 68 for the client. 

FILES

/etc/services
Defines the sockets and protocols used for Internet services

RELATED INFORMATION

Commands: bootpd(8), inetd(8)

DARPA Internet Request For Comments: Bootstrap Protocol (RFC 951), Clarifications and Extensions for the Bootstrap Protocol (RFC 1532)