What type of ports do BOOTP and DHCP utilize for network interface configuration?

BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) are both used for network interface configuration, enabling devices to obtain IP addresses automatically. They operate over the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which is a connectionless protocol suited for scenarios where timely delivery of data is more critical than reliability.

The specific ports utilized by these protocols are 67 and 68. Port 67 is designated for the server-side component, where DHCP and BOOTP servers listen for requests from clients. Port 68 is used by clients to receive responses from the servers. This distinction allows for a clear communication pathway for configuration data to be sent from the server to the client devices.

Using UDP rather than TCP is significant; while TCP requires a connection and ensures reliable delivery through accommodation for retransmission of lost packets, UDP offers a simpler and faster communication method, which is well-suited for the frequent and transient nature of DHCP and BOOTP requests and responses. The use of UDP also means that there is no burden of establishing and maintaining a session, allowing network devices to rapidly configure themselves upon connection.

Hence, the correct response identifies the right protocol type (UDP) and the appropriate ports (67 and 68) that facilitate the operation of BOOTP and DHCP