Within the TCP/IP suite, which protocol provides very minimal file transfer capability with minimal overhead, suitable for simple bootstrapping and configuration tasks?

Introduction / Context:
Different TCP/IP application protocols trade features for simplicity. When devices need lightweight file transfer for boot images or configuration—often before a full operating system loads—they rely on a minimal protocol rather than a full-featured one like FTP.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Requirement: minimal capability and low overhead for file transfer.
• Use cases: network booting, firmware/config delivery, small embedded systems.

Concept / Approach:
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) runs over UDP and supports basic read/write operations without authentication, directory listing, or advanced control. This austerity keeps implementations small and suitable for constrained or pre-boot environments. FTP, by contrast, is richer (authentication, control/data channels) and heavier.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
PXE boot sequences commonly fetch bootloaders and images via TFTP because of its simplicity and small client footprint, confirming its role as the minimal file transfer option in TCP/IP environments.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• RARP: maps MAC to IP; not a file transfer protocol.
• FTP: heavyweight, connection-oriented, with control and data channels.
• TELNET: interactive text terminal; no file transfer semantics.
• None: incorrect because TFTP matches exactly.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming TFTP is secure—by design it lacks authentication and encryption; mistaking TFTP’s UDP simplicity as universally suitable (it is best for controlled LANs and bootstrapping, not general Internet file exchange).

Final Answer:
TFTP