Which protocol is used to update or upgrade software and firmware on remote networked devices and uses UDP port 69?

Which protocol is used to update or upgrade software and firmware on remote networked devices and uses UDP port 69?

• A. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
• B. Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)
• C. File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
• D. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

Answer: (B)

Updating firmware on remote network devices is often done with a lightweight file transfer protocol that runs over UDP. This protocol begins the transfer by sending a simple request to UDP port 69 on the device, then continues the data exchange in small blocks with acknowledgments. Its simplicity and low overhead make it well-suited for embedded devices that need to pull or push firmware without the overhead of a reliable, connection-oriented protocol. However, because it lacks built-in authentication and reliability, it’s best used in controlled, trusted environments where the update source is trusted. The other options aren’t used for this purpose: a routing protocol operates over TCP on a different port and focuses on path selection rather than file transfers; a full-featured file transfer protocol uses TCP and requires more overhead and state management; an email transfer protocol also uses TCP and serves a different purpose altogether.

Updating firmware on remote network devices is often done with a lightweight file transfer protocol that runs over UDP. This protocol begins the transfer by sending a simple request to UDP port 69 on the device, then continues the data exchange in small blocks with acknowledgments. Its simplicity and low overhead make it well-suited for embedded devices that need to pull or push firmware without the overhead of a reliable, connection-oriented protocol. However, because it lacks built-in authentication and reliability, it’s best used in controlled, trusted environments where the update source is trusted.

The other options aren’t used for this purpose: a routing protocol operates over TCP on a different port and focuses on path selection rather than file transfers; a full-featured file transfer protocol uses TCP and requires more overhead and state management; an email transfer protocol also uses TCP and serves a different purpose altogether.