What is the address resolution protocol?

Here's how it works in simple terms:

• You try to connect to a device on your network. Your device knows the IP address of the target device, but it needs the MAC address to send data directly.
• Your device broadcasts an ARP request. This request contains the target device's IP address and asks, "Who has this IP address?"
• The target device hears the ARP request and responds. If the IP-to-MAC mapping exists in the cache, the gateway directs the packet to the correct device. If the mapping is missing, the gateway initiates an ARP request.
• Your device receives the ARP reply. The gateway receives the reply, updates its ARP cache with the new mapping, and forwards the data packet to the intended device. Now, it knows the target device's MAC address and can communicate directly with it.

Also, it is important to know that ARP caches have limited space and periodically remove outdated entries (a few minutes old) to maintain efficiency. Frequent updates ensure the cache reflects changes in the network, such as a device changing its IP address or becoming unavailable.

4 types of ARP are commonly used:

It enables communication devices on different networks by allowing a Layer 3 device (like a router) to act as a bridge.

How it works:

• A device on one network sends an ARP request for a device on another network.
• The router configured for Proxy ARP intercepts the request and responds with its own MAC address, pretending to be the target device.
• The originating device sends data packets to the router's MAC address.
• The router then forwards these packets to the actual target device on the other network.

To help identify and prevent conflicts caused by duplicate IP addresses on a network.

How it works:

• A device broadcasts an ARP request for its own IP address.
• If another device on the network has the same IP address, it will respond to the ARP request, revealing the conflict.
• This allows network administrators to address the duplicate IP issue.

This type is used in rare situations where a device doesn't know its own IP address.

How it works:

• The device sends out a Reverse ARP request, typically to a gateway router.
• The router checks its table that maps MAC addresses to IP addresses and responds with the device's IP address.

Less common than other ARP types, InARP is used in specific network technologies like Frame Relay and ATM.

How it works:

• InARP aims to determine a device's IP address based on its MAC address.
• This is helpful in these network types where Layer 2 virtual circuit addressing exists and needs to be translated to Layer 3 IP addresses.

RARP and InARP are not as widely used as Proxy ARP and Gratuitous ARP.

ARP spoofing is a sneaky attack where a hacker tricks the network by linking their MAC address with a real IP address. This lets them grab data intended for the real device, leading to unauthorized access and other cyber threats.