BOOTPC(8)

💖 bootpc — the bootp client, bestie 💖

okay so this is BOOTPC(8), from the Debian GNU/Linux Manual. Sit down, grab a boba, we're getting your machine an IP address. 🧚

✨ NAME ✨

bootpc — it's a bootp client. that's it, that's the vibe. 🫶

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

bootpc [--bootfile file] [--dev device] [--verbose] [--debug] [--server
addr] [--hwaddr addr] [--returniffail] [--waitformore length] [--in2host
addr] [--serverbcast] [--help]

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

no cap, this manual page is just a quick lil rundown of the bootpc command. it was written for the Debian GNU/Linux distribution (but literally anyone else can use it too, we don't gatekeep) — and it exists because the original program doesn't have a manual page at all. not one. tragic. 😭 so we made one. you're welcome.

bootpc is a boot protocol client — it's the main character that goes and grabs your machine's IP address, sets up your DNS nameservers, and pulls in other useful info while it's at it. it's giving personal assistant energy. 💅

💅 OPTIONS 💅

• --bootfile file — tells the server to use file as the boot file. be specific, bestie, servers love that. ✨
• --dev device — uses device to communicate with the server. pick your fave.
• --verbose — be verbose. it talks more. we love a chatty king. 🗣️
• --debug — produces debugging output. for when you need to see everything.
• --server addr — uses the IP address addr to communicate with the server.
• --hwaddr addr — uses addr as our hardware address instead of whatever the operating system hands us. you can override the OS, it's fine, the OS will cope. 🙈
• --returniffail — terminates the program if a failure occurs. by default bootpc is way more chill and will just ask the user to press a key if the request didn't succeed. so this flag is the "no time for that, we bail" option. 💀
• --waitformore length — waits for more responses once one arrives. bootpc will wait for at most length seconds. honestly this is probably only useful for debugging. lowkey a debugging-only girlie.
• --in2host addr — takes an address and returns the useful bits of the name after a lookup. this used to be its own separate program, but it's more compact to have both together, so now they're roommates. 🏠
• --serverbcast — tells the server to send back a broadcast reply. this is necessary on Linux 2.1 and 2.2. like, required required. no broadcast reply, no service. 😤
• --help — displays the usage of bootpc. the classic. the icon. 👑

👑 AUTHOR 👑

this manual page was written by Herbert Xu <herbert@debian.org>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others). shoutout Herbert, real one fr fr. 🌟

heads up bestie: this page is from the Debian GNU/Linux manual and it exists specifically because the original program has no manpage of its own — so if something looks a lil sparse, that's why. 🎀

and that's the whole thing, babe 💖 this was BOOTPC(8), dated 1999 March 21st, from the BOOTPC corner of the Debian manual. go get that IP address, you absolute icon. 🌈✨🦋