BOOTP是一种网络协议，让电脑或其他周边仪器可以从服务机下载启动进程。

BOOTP（Bootstrap Protocol）是DHCP的前身，本来是设计用来给无磁盘主机透过网络开机用的协议，它与DHCP最大的不同有：

由于BOOTP与DHCP的封包格式极为相似，因此有的DHCP 服务器也支持BOOTP协议， 也能够回应BOOTP客户端的请求，但是由于BOOTP不支持DHCP的lease time option， 因此DHCP服务器在发放IP给BOOTP客户端时，基本上是假设lease time无上限，也就是不回收发给 BOOTP 客户端的IP地址。

The Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) is a computer networking protocol used in Internet Protocol networks to automatically assign an IP address to network devices from a configuration server. The BOOTP was originally defined in RFC 951.

When a computer that is connected to a network is powered up and boots its operating system, the system software broadcasts BOOTP messages onto the network to request an IP address assignment. A BOOTP configuration server assigns an IP address based on the request from a pool of addresses configured by an administrator.