What does the TCP/IP arp command do?

The TCP/IP arp command is used to resolve IP addresses to MAC addresses. In networking, when a device wants to communicate with another device on a local network, it needs to know the corresponding MAC address for the IP address it wants to reach. The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) performs this function by broadcasting a request on the network for the MAC address associated with a specific IP address.

When a device sends out an ARP request, any device that recognizes its own IP address as the target will respond with its MAC address. This allows the requesting device to create a mapping of the IP address to the MAC address, enabling it to address Ethernet frames correctly for communication on the network. This process is essential for local area networking (LAN) as it ensures that data packets are delivered to the correct device.

Understanding ARP is crucial for network troubleshooting, as issues with address resolution can lead to connectivity problems. The other options do not accurately describe the function of the arp command; it is focused solely on resolving IP addresses to MAC addresses for efficient communication over a network.