For all you networking gurus :-
Is ARP considered to be a layer 2 or layer 3 protocol ?
I googled, but I cant still seem to get a proper answer.
Although I tend to agree that its a L3 protocol, it does not encapsulate a L3PDU on to the Data Link Layer, as its messages are put directly in the data part of the L2 frame.
Or is it best defined as a L3 protocol without any header ?
Thanks Shahed
Is ARP considered to be a layer 2 or layer 3 protocol ?
ARP deals with MAC addresses - it's at the MAC sublayer of the Data Link Layer.
I guess I did not google long enough before posting this question :-)
Well according to this author, (I have a hard copy of this excellent book, BTW),
<snip> describes ARP and RARP, the "oddballs" of the TCP/IP suite. In some ways they belong in both layer two and layer three, and in other ways neither. They really serve to link together the network interface layer and the internet layer. For this reason, I really believe they belong between these two and call them "layer connection" protocols </snip>
http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_DataLinkNetworkLayerConnectionProtocols.htm
However, for Cisco certification purposes, I believe its considered a L3 protocol.
Thanks Shahed
On Wednesday 18 January 2006 00:00, Shahed Moolji wrote:
For all you networking gurus :-
Is ARP considered to be a layer 2 or layer 3 protocol ?
I googled, but I cant still seem to get a proper answer.
Although I tend to agree that its a L3 protocol, it does not encapsulate a L3PDU on to the Data Link Layer, as its messages are put directly in the data part of the L2 frame.
Or is it best defined as a L3 protocol without any header ?
Thanks Shahed
Its a L3 protocol. I thought wikipedia can help. But its confusing me too right now. I tend to agree that it works with MAC addresses and MAC and LLC is a part of L3 but apparently ARP works with L2 and L3 addresses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_Resolution_Protocol
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Shahed Moolji