DHCP Server Does Not Provide Options to Remote Boot Clients

ID: Q183199

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

Your diskless workstations (or other devices), that use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to obtain IP address information and BOOTP file and server information, may not obtain the DHCP options that are configured in the client's DHCP reservation.

CAUSE

Some DHCP clients do not request any option parameters in their DHCPDISCOVER packet or their DHCPREQUEST packet. Windows NT DHCP server expects the client to request the necessary options in either the DHCPDISCOVER or the DHCPREQUEST packet. Windows NT DHCP server will not provide any option parameters unless specifically requested by the client.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post additional information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on BOOTP, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q174765
TITLE : How to Configure Microsoft DHCP Server for BOOTP Clients

ARTICLE-ID: Q142373
TITLE : TFTP Server Not Included With Windows NT

ARTICLE-ID: Q164394
TITLE : BOOTP Service Does Not populate ARP cache

ARTICLE-ID: Q167708
TITLE : BOOTP Client Name Disappear in DHCP Manager

For more information about DHCP and BOOTP, see RFC1532, RFC2131, and RFC2132.

RFCs may be obtained through the Internet as follows:

Paper copies of all RFCs are available from the NIC, either individually or on a subscription basis (for more information, contact NIC@NIC.DDN.MIL). Online copies are available through FTP or Kermit from NIC.DDN.MIL as rfc/rfc####.txt or rfc/rfc####.PS (#### is the RFC number without leading zeros).

Keywords : kbbug4.00 kbbug3.50 kbbug3.51
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug