BOOTP -- The Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP), described in RFC 951, defines how a computer on a TCP/IP network obtains its Internet Protocol (IP) address and other information it needs to start up. When a computer configured to use BOOTP (a BOOTP client) starts up, it sends out a BOOTP request, asking for the address of a BOOTP server. The BOOTP server is generally expected to be on the Local Area Network; however, the Pipeline can be configured to initiate a connection in order for the request to reach a remote BOOTP server. Once reached, the BOOTP server responds by sending a BOOTP reply to the client with the client's IP address and, optionally, other configuration information. The client then uses this information to boot up. This scenario is the same for DHCP requests and responses.

BOOTP is often used with Trivial File Transport Protocol (TFTP) to allow a BOOTP client to download a configuration file.

TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) -- TFTP, described in RFC 1350, is a simple protocol designed to transfer files between different TCP/IP networks. It simply reads and writes files; it does not contain any of the more sophisticated features, such as listing directories or authenticating users, that File Transfer Protocol (FTP) provides.