devices, which lack a user interface, can use so-called ARP stuffing to make an initial network connection, although this is a misnomer, as ARP is not involved. ARP stuffing is accomplished as follows: The user's computer has an IP address stuffed manually into its address table (normally with the arp'' command with the MAC address taken from a label on the device) The computer sends special packets to the device, typically a ping packet with a non-default size. The device then adopts this IP address The user then communicates with it by telnet or web protocols to complete the configuration. Such devices typically have a method to disable this process once the device is operating normally, as the capability can make it vulnerable to attack. Standards documents - Ethernet Address Resolution Protocol, Internet Standard STD 37. - Reverse Address Resolution Protocol, Internet Standard STD 38. - Inverse Address Resolution Protocol, draft standard - IPv4 Address Conflict Detection, proposed standard See also Arping Arptables Arpwatch Bonjour Sleep Proxy Cisco HDLC References External links Gratuitous ARP Information and sample capture from Wireshark ARP-SK ARP traffic generation tools Internet Standards