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From: jqj@duff.uoregon.edu (JQ Johnson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm
Subject: Re: Dynamically assigning IP numbers on Ethernet?
Message-ID: <1991May29.205528.2683@ns.uoregon.edu>
Date: 29 May 91 20:55:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: ns.1991May29.205528.2683
References: <43849@netnews.upenn.edu>
Sender: news@ns.uoregon.edu
Organization: University of Oregon Network Services
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If you really need dynamically assigned IP addresses on Ethernet then
you have a problem.  I don't think you do, though.  If you select "Server"
from the MacTCP options, then your Mac will look for a bootp server when
it boots up.  You can run bootp on any friendly Unix box to assign the
Mac an IP address based on the Ethernet address (i.e. on the hardware),
freeing you from the tyranny of the startup diskette.

Most versions of bootp don't do true dynamic IP address assignment.  The
network admin still has to keep track of the list of Ethernet interfaces
on the network, and has to statically assign IP addresses to interfaces.
However, this is a lot easier than assigning IP addresses to startup
diskettes, and has the advantage of also providing other information
that MacTCP needs like the default gateway and subnet mask.

-- 
JQ Johnson
Director of Network Services		Internet: jqj@oregon.uoregon.edu
University of Oregon			voice:	(503) 346-1746
250E Computing Center			BITNET: jqj@oregon
Eugene, OR  97403-1212			fax: (503) 346-4397