Which transmission protocol provides the IP address for a device that knows its MAC address?

The correct answer, which is the Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP), is used specifically to allow a device to obtain its IP address when it knows its own MAC address. RARP is primarily used in situations where devices are unable to configure an IP address on their own, often in diskless workstations or certain embedded systems within a network.

RARP operates on a client-server model in which the client broadcasts a request with its MAC address to ask for its corresponding IP address from a RARP server. This is particularly useful in environments where manual IP address configuration is impractical.

While other protocols listed are relevant within networking, they do not serve the same function as RARP. Internet Protocol (IP) is responsible for addressing and routing packets but does not provide address resolution based on MAC addresses. The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used for determining the MAC address corresponding to a known IP address, effectively working in the opposite direction of RARP. Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) focuses on sending error messages and operational information but does not deal with address resolution.

Overall, RARP is fundamental in allowing devices that know their hardware address to discover their IP addresses, making it a crucial protocol in certain network scenarios.