What is the Difference Between ARP and RARP?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) and RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) are both network layer protocols used in local area networks (LANs) to map IP addresses to physical addresses (MAC addresses) and vice versa. They share some similarities, such as using broadcast in requests and unicast in responses, as well as utilizing the same packet format and broadcast addresses. However, they serve different purposes and work in opposite directions:
- ARP:
- Maps IP addresses of nodes to their corresponding MAC addresses.
- Used by hosts or routers to find the physical address of another host or router in the LAN.
- Local host maintains the ARP table.
- Broadcast MAC address is used in the LAN.
- RARP:
- Maps the 48-bit MAC address of a host to its corresponding 32-bit IP address.
- Used by thin clients with limited facilities.
- RARP server maintains the RARP table.
- Broadcast IP address is used in the LAN.
These protocols are essential for establishing communication between devices in a network, allowing them to transmit data between one another by resolving their IP addresses to physical MAC addresses or vice versa.
Comparative Table: ARP vs RARP
Here is a table summarizing the differences between ARP and RARP:
| Parameter | ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) | RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Address Resolution Protocol | Reverse Address Resolution Protocol |
| Basics | Retrieves the receiver's MAC address in a network. | Retrieves a computer's IP address from its available server. |
| Mapping | Maps the node's IP address (32-bit logical address) to the MAC address/physical address (48-bit). | Maps the 48-bit address (MAC address/physical address) to the logical IP address (32-bit). |
| Broadcast Address | Uses a broadcast MAC address. | Uses a broadcast IP address. |
| Table Maintenance | ARP table is managed by the local host. | RARP table is managed by the RARP server. |
| Purpose | Used to find the MAC address of a device with a known IP address. | Used to find the IP address of a device with a known MAC address. |
In summary, ARP is used to find the MAC address of a device with a known IP address, while RARP is used to find the IP address of a device with a known MAC address.