AARP probe packets are sent out on a nonextended AppleTalk network as part of the initialization sequence for a node to discover whether a randomly selected node ID is being used by any node. If not, the sending node uses the node ID. If so, it chooses a different ID and sends more AARP probe packets.
See also:
Apple Address Resolution Protocol (AARP)
Packet (computing)
This article (or an earlier version of it) contains material from FOLDOC, used with permission.
