Final answer:
RARP is a network protocol used to translate hardware addresses, like Ethernet addresses, into IP addresses. It has largely been supplanted by DHCP, though understanding RARP can offer historical insights into network protocols.
Step-by-step explanation:
RARP - Reverse Address Resolution Protocol is a network protocol used to resolve an IP address from a given hardware address, such as an Ethernet address. It is used in scenarios where a device needs to find its own IP address without knowing it beforehand. This is common in diskless workstations that do not store network configuration information. When the device is initialized, it broadcasts a RARP request on the network. A RARP server, which has a table of MAC to IP address mappings, responds with the appropriate IP address if it finds a match.
However, RARP has largely been replaced by the more sophisticated Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which can not only provide IP addresses but also additional configuration information. Despite its reduced prevalence in modern networks, understanding RARP is valuable for historical and educational purposes, particularly when studying the evolution of network protocols.