On Tuesday 11 March 2003 09:54 pm, -ray wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Mar 2003, Alvaro Zuniga wrote:
> > why should all DHCP servers need to be addressed? We are only looking for
> > a single IP which can be provided by any server. Seems like a waste of
> > bandwith, memory, and available IPs( I imagine IPs become temporarily
> > unavailable ).
>
> Remember the client making the request knows absolutely nothing about the
> network.  it doesn't have an ip, much less know where the dhcp servers
> are... so all it can do is broadcast a DHCPDISCOVER and hope someone
> comes to the rescue.

It is amazing how this procedure happens. I still believe that management is a 
little loose.

> It is somewhat of a waste.  Now if all available dhcp servers could talk
> to each other and elect one server to answer the request, that would be
> cool.  But nothing in the RFC defines the mechanism for this... then again
> nothing specifically prohibits it either.  So your implementation could
> have this feature, and still meet the spec.  I've found most RFCs to be
> like this.... flexible and extensible, which means some things can be a
> little vague.  (there may be a later RFC that does define stuff like
> this)

my implementation huh?

> > What is the criterion of the client to determine which IP is good enough?
> > Does it matter? I would imagine that unless a specific network is desired
> > any IP would  do. If a particular network IP range is to be used ( is
> > this possible? ) there must or should be a mechanism to identify the DHCP
> > server providing that range of IPs.
>
> As far as the RFC, there is no criterion.  It is totally up to the client
> developer to decide...i'm not sure what criterion Windows/Linux clients
> use.  From what i can tell they either choose the first offer, or choose
> one at random.  Check out the dhcpcd source maybe... :)  Yes unless the
> network is *really* complicated, i would say it doesn't matter.  There is
> a 'server id' field in the DHCP messages to identify the server.

What I think is that there is nothing to decide. All is required is an IP and 
they are all made the same within the bounds of a network. "first offer, or 
choose one at random". Does the client actually hangs around after receiving 
the first offer? This is what I am talking about. Until when does this 
happen? I do not believe that there is an option here, you get it you use it, 
or by what you are saying later, try to use it.

> > Once again a waste of IP addresses. The DHCP server would have to have a
> > time out to determine when to make an IP address available to someone
> > else. I guess there could be a response stating I did not like your IP so
> > keep it! But once again, even more bandwith for what is needed. Should
> > the server approve or just make note of it, if it already offer the IP
> > then it should assume it is taken unless the time out is reached.
>
> Well it's been a while since i saw the RFC, so i looked this one up. The
> server is NOT obligated to reserve addresses if OFFERS... but the protocol
> might work better if it does (according to RFC2131).  But, when the client
> chooses a server, it will broadcast the DHCPREQUEST and the 'server id'
> field is populated with its server choice.  The other servers will also
> see this request, and assume the client is denying the OFFER it made...so
> that in effect is your 'i didn't like your IP so keep it' message.
> Conversely, after the client chooses, the server is also allowed to renig
> on its OFFER, and respond with a DHCPNAK, telling the client 'ps i changed
> my mind.  kiss my a**, haha' (movie quote!).

If a server make an offer it should await for a time out just in the event 
that the client does not want any IP at all and I mean logs out, or 
connection drops, not by choice. If the standart dictates that the first 
offer should be used the DHCP server assumes it will be taken unless a 
particular period of time has elapsed, during this time the IP should become 
unavailable. Like I said before, I do not know any of these and there are 
probably hundreds of reasons to be the way it is. However, with my limited 
knowledge I cannot see a more logical way.

> > Thanks for the info, I was just thinking about the process but I am
> > certain that if there was a better way it would have already been
> > implemented.
>
> there's probably always a better way, otherwise we'd get bored, haha...
> for the rest of the nitty gritty details, see
> http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2131.txt.  This document is actually somewhat
> readable.

I will check that out for sure because now I am really curious, however, I 
mentioned about DNS in my previous messages and I think I am going to occupy 
my self with that for a bit, again. 

Take care Ray
>
> later!
> Ray
>
>
>
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