Mac OS X Server 1.x: Using Another BootP Server On NetBoot Network

Since the Mac OS X Server's NetBoot services use vendor specific enhancements to BootP in order to boot Mac OS clients, what happens to the clients if another BootP server is on the same network?
Note: This article pertains to Mac OS X Server versions 1.x, which were released prior to May 2001.

NetBoot Server dynamically adds NetBoot capable computers to the NetInfo database based upon the vendor specific formatting in their BootP packets. NetBoot clients will take whatever BOOTREPLY it receives first. Therefore, other bootp and DHCP servers must not reply to the NetBoot client, in order for NetBooting to work successfully. If BootP services are desired for non-NetBoot capable machines for purposes other than NetBooting this can be facilitated by adding the client machines hardware Ethernet address to NetInfo via the NetInfoManager on Mac OS X Server.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012