DHCP Protocol

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is defined in RFC 2131, and it is based on earlier work with the protocol for BOOTP relay agents, which was specified in RFC 951. A DHCP Server provides permanent storage and dynamic allocation of IPv4 network addresses and other network configuration information. A DHCP Server is a host, and a DHCP Client is also a host. This protocol is designed for allocating IPv4 addresses to hosts, but not to routers.

A Client Identifier (Client ID) is required so that the DHCP Server can match a DHCP client with its `lease.' If the Client does not supply a Client Identifier option, the Client Hardware MAC Address (chaddr) is used by the Server to identify the Client. A lease is the period of time that a DHCP Client may use an IPv4 address that has been allocated by the DHCP Server. This lease period may be extended, and may even be set to `infinity' (0xffffffff hex), to indicate a `permanent' IPv4 address allocation.

DHCP messages are exchanged between client and server using UDP as the transport protocol. The DHCP Server port is UDP Port 67, and the DHCP Client port is UDP Port 68.

DHCPDISCOVER messages are broadcast by the Client on the local subnet, to reach the DHCP Server. Suggested values for a network address and lease period may be included in the Discover message. The Server(s) may respond with a DHCPOFFER message. The Offer message includes available IPv4 network address, plus configuration parameters contained in the DHCP options (TLVs/objects).

Note: You will not be able to select DHCP-enabled protocol interfaces for use with Ixia protocol emulations, with the exception of IGMP.

DHCPv6 Protocol

The Dynamic Host Control Protocol for Version 6 (DHCPv6) is defined in RFC 3315. DHCPv6 uses UDP packets to exchange messages between servers and clients. The servers provide IPv6 addresses and additional configuration information to clients. A DHCPv6 server listens on a reserved, link-scope multicast address. A client identifies itself to the server by a link-local source address.

The groups of IPv6 addresses managed by the servers and clients are called Identity Associations (IAs), where each IA has a unique identifier. IA_NAs are identity associations of non-temporary (permanent) IPv6 addresses. IA_TAs are identity associations of temporary addresses.

RFC 3633, `IPv6 Prefix Options for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Version 6,' adds capability for automated allocation of IPv6 prefixes from a delegating router to a requesting router. IA_PDs are identity associations used for delegated IPv6 address prefixes.

The setup for DHCPv6 involves a four-message exchange `handshake.' Maintaining the DHCPv6 client-server relationship, and managing the return or deletion of IPv6 addresses involves three additional messages. These messages are described in the following list:

Message exchange (handshake):

Additional messages for Maintenance/Return/Deletion of Addresses:

Note: If the client does not receive any REPLY messages from the server in response to its RENEW or REBIND messages, the client deletes the assigned addresses according to the valid lifetimes of the addresses.