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Freshfall
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What layer of the TCP/IP would ARP and RARP belong to
TCP/IP layers, TCP/IP, Arp, RARP
ARP translates Layer 3 addresses to Layer 2 addresses, and knowing fully well that it is not an IP-only or Ethernet-only protocol.

Can anyone help with this, it's getting a bit confusing.
ASKED: Jan 19 2009  4:22 PM GMT
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Jfernatt
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I have to disagree with the logic below. You are correct that using an IP address for management does not make a switch a layer 3 device. But if the switch uses IP to make forwarding decisions then it becomes a layer 3 device (IE the term 'layer 3 switch')

ARP does indeed use frames to forward the request but the response itself is actually an IP packet encapsulated in a frame (like everything else) so I have to agree with the original answer.

ARP IS layer 3.

If you need clarification please view RFC 826 at ietf.org

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Switches are using IP addresses too (for management) but that doesn't make them layer 3 devices.
I had similar question about ARP and found an answer. I ran packet analyzer while clearing my PC's arp cache, then pinging remote host. ARP request is Ethernet broadcast - to address ff.ff.ff.ff.ff.ff. Which means ARP operates at layer 2.

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Previous answer:
ARP/RARP would have to be at layer 3 since IP addresses are involved. This is where routing takes place. Bridging takes place at layer 2 or using MAC addresses. See this section of the TCP/IP guide for more information.
Last Answered: Jul 30 2009  3:51 PM GMT by Jfernatt   605 pts.
Latest Contributors: Labnuke99   26360 pts., Anser   30 pts.
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BlankReg   11270 pts.  |   Jul 30 2009  10:46PM GMT

ARP is layer 3 - no doubt. It is an IP function, so is network layer.

I would also like to make the point that ARP does not translate IP to MAC, it is the method that is used to get the MAC address for a particular IP address. Not a translation, just finding out where a particular IP address lives. Just like me asking you what your house number is, I still address the letter to you, but add the house address where you live.

 
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