The Role of Host Configuration Protocols in TCP/IP
You might find it strange that host configuration protocols would exist in the lofty heights of the application layer. It certainly sounds like host configuration is a function related more to the network layer, where internetwork addresses such as IP addresses function. In fact, some host configuration protocols, like the rudimentary Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP, discussed in Chapter 14), do exist down at that level.
However, there are advantages to having host configuration protocols reside at higher levels. A major one is that the operation of the protocol does not depend on the hardware on which it runs, making it more universal. Another is being able to convey host configuration ...
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