Configuration...

Hai , 

          I am developing a configuration software which should assign an IP
address for a network device  which is connected to the network for the
first time through my program .

        What is the procedure ? , should i use bootp or DHCP or ARP , please
do advice me .In case I assign only IP address in my configuration
application , can i write a common configuration software which can be used
to configure for HP , Lexmark , sharp etc etc.

Thanks in advance,

Regards,
S.Sriram