---
name: "bootptest"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bootptest"
---

# bootptest(8)

send BOOTP queries and print responses

## NAME

**bootptest** – send BOOTP queries and print responses

## SYNOPSIS

**bootptest** \[**-f** *bootfile*\] \[**-h**\] \[**-m** *magic\_number*\] *server-name* \[*template-file*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **bootptest** utility sends BOOTP requests to the host specified as *server-name* at one-second intervals until either a response is received, or until ten requests have gone unanswered. After a response is received, **bootptest** will wait one more second listening for additional responses.

## OPTIONS

- **-f** *bootfile*

  Fill in the boot file field of the request with *bootfile*.

- **-h**

  Use the hardware (Ethernet) address to identify the client. By default, the IP address is copied into the request indicating that this client already knows its IP address.

- **-m** *magic\_number*

  Initialize the first word of the vendor options field with *magic\_number*.

A *template-file* may be specified, in which case **bootptest** uses the (binary) contents of this file to initialize the *options* area of the request packet.

## SEE ALSO

[bootpd(8)](/bootpd/8.md) *BOOTSTRAP PROTOCOL (BOOTP)*, RFC951. *BOOTP Vendor Information Extensions*, RFC1048.

## AUTHORS

The **bootptest** utility is a combination of original and derived works. The main program module (*bootptest.c*) is original work by Gordon W. Ross ⟨*gwr@mc.com*⟩. The packet printing module (*print-bootp.c*) is a slightly modified version of a file from the BSD [tcpdump(1)](/tcpdump/1.md) program.

This program includes software developed by the University of California, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and its contributors. (See the copyright notice in *print-bootp.c*.)