Apple LaserWriter 12/640 PS - Manual (Page 80)

80 Chapter 4
If the IP address is set through ping assignment (described below), the
printer attempts to obtain an address through RARP and BOOTP when
turned on. If unsuccessful, the printer continues to use the IP address set
through the
ping assignment. To disable RARP and BOOTP requests
completely, set the IP address permanently through telnet or one of the
other utilities.
The ping command sends an ICMP Echo Request packet to the printer.
The destination fields in this packet contain the printer’s Ethernet address and
its IP address. The printer accepts the ICMP packet because it recognizes its
own Ethernet address. It then sets it own IP address to the address contained
in the packet’s IP destination address field.
Note: Setting the IP address works only with ICMP packets that specify the
printer’s Ethernet address in their destination field. Multicast or broadcast
packets will not be accepted.
Printer IP address assignment, option A: Using ping assignment
Any printer administrator with superuser privileges can use the ping
assignment method to assign the printer’s IP address and store it in the
printer’s nonvolatile memory (so it remembers the address even when the
printer is turned off).
Note: This method works only when the printer has no IP address. If
you’ve already set the printer’s IP address, you cannot change it by using
this method.
1 Turn on the printer and save the startup page that prints out.
2 Log in as root to any UNIX workstation on the same subnet as the printer.
3 Add the following line to the /etc/hosts table on your workstation:
printer_IP_address printer_IP_name
You obtain the printer IP address from your network administrator. You
choose the printer IP name yourself (if it was not assigned by the network
administrator). It must follow the naming convention of your system, which
generally means it must contain fewer than 32 characters and no special
characters.
Example
80.20.4.78 LaserWriterFloor2