Understanding the Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP)

What is Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP)?

Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP) is a network protocol used to obtain the Internet Protocol (IP) address of a computer from its physical address (MAC address). This is the opposite of Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) which is used to find the physical address from an IP address. RARP can be used by diskless workstations to get an IP address from a server on the network. It is an obsolete protocol and has been replaced by BOOTP and DHCP.

How Does RARP Work?

RARP works by sending a broadcast message containing the physical address of the requesting node to the entire local network. The server then looks up the physical address in its table and sends a reply with the corresponding IP address. The requesting node then uses this IP address to communicate on the network.

Benefits of RARP

• RARP was used to remove the need for manual configuration of IP addresses.
• It can be used to configure diskless workstations.
• It can be used for applications like booting up remote computers.
• It does not require a client-server architecture.

Limitations of RARP

• It is no longer maintained or supported.
• It requires a static mapping of physical addresses to IP addresses.
• It is slow and inefficient compared to BOOTP and DHCP.
• It lacks secure authentication.