Difference between ARP and RARP
Last Updated :
02 Apr, 2023
In Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Receiver’s MAC address is fetched. Through ARP, (32-bit) IP address mapped into (48-bit) MAC address. Whereas, In Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP), IP address is fetched through server. Through RARP, (48-bit) MAC address of 48 bits mapped into (32-bit) IP address.
Prerequisite – ARP, Reverse ARP(RARP), Inverse ARP(InARP), Proxy ARP and Gratuitous ARP
Let us see that the difference between ARP and RARP that are as follows:
ARP |
RARP |
A protocol used to map an IP address to a physical (MAC) address |
A protocol used to map a physical (MAC) address to an IP address |
To obtain the MAC address of a network device when only its IP address is known |
To obtain the IP address of a network device when only its MAC address is known |
Client broadcasts its IP address and requests a MAC address, and the server responds with the corresponding MAC address |
Client broadcasts its MAC address and requests an IP address, and the server responds with the corresponding IP address |
IP addresses |
MAC addresses |
Widely used in modern networks to resolve IP addresses to MAC addresses |
Rarely used in modern networks as most devices have a pre-assigned IP address |
ARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol. |
Whereas RARP stands for Reverse Address Resolution Protocol. |
Through ARP, (32-bit) IP address mapped into (48-bit) MAC address. |
Whereas through RARP, (48-bit) MAC address of 48 bits mapped into (32-bit) IP address. |
In ARP, broadcast MAC address is used. |
While in RARP, broadcast IP address is used. |
In ARP, ARP table is managed or maintained by local host. |
While in RARP, RARP table is managed or maintained by RARP server. |
In Address Resolution Protocol, Receiver’s MAC address is fetched. |
While in RARP, IP address is fetched. |
In ARP, ARP table uses ARP reply for its updation. |
While in RARP, RARP table uses RARP reply for configuration of IP addresses . |
Hosts and routers uses ARP for knowing the MAC address of other hosts and routers in the networks. |
While RARP is used by small users having less facilities. |
ARP is used in sender’s side to map the receiver’s MAC address. |
RARP is used in receiver’s side to map the sender’s IP. |
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