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RFC 2347 / TFTP OPTION NEGOTIATION

Append option pairs to a read or write request

01

TFTP means Trivial File Transfer Protocol. Its client reads a file using RRQ or writes one using WRQ. Options are extra named settings appended to that original request.

RFC 2347 · Packet Formats · p.2EXAMPLE
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Append option pairs to a read or write requestSeparate whole-packet512/513 limit comparison includes all base fields and options.RRQ: base fields first, then option/value pairsCount opcode + filename + zeros + mode + optionsRequest A: 512 octets — within limit512 includes the entire TFTP requestRequest B: 513 octets — too largeNot a 512-byte budget only for option pairsSchematic field widths; 00 = zero octet, not printable digit 0
04
Count the whole request against its limit

Separate size comparison: an otherwise valid constructed request can total exactly 512 octets. A 513-octet request exceeds the limit even if its option suffix is short.

Source for this drawing: RFC 2347 · Read RFC source: Packet Formats · p.2 ↗

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KEY POINT

The two-octet opcode is 1 for RRQ and 2 for WRQ. Filename and transfer mode remain at the front; this guide uses octet mode for unchanged file bytes.

  • The two-octet opcode is 1 for RRQ and 2 for WRQ. Filename and transfer mode remain at the front; this guide uses octet mode for unchanged file bytes.
  • Each option name and value is a separate case-insensitive ASCII string terminated by a zero octet. A zero terminator is byte 00, not the printable digit 0 (byte 30 hexadecimal). Do not apply option case folding to a filename.
  • Several pairs can be appended; their order has no significance. Each option may be specified only once, including case variants of the same name.
  • The entire request packet has a maximum of 512 octets, including opcode, filename, mode and all zero-terminated pairs. This is not a 512-octet allowance just for options; UDP/IP headers are outside this packet limit.
DETAILS

Fictional picnic.txt in octet mode; chosen sizes and values are examples. Comparisons reset state. This RFC uses lowercase must/should/may; those distinctions are retained. No real files or UDP transfers are used.

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