Delay If No Response for DHCP Renew/Discover

ID: Q238917

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

A DHCP client may experience a delay obtaining an IP address from a DHCP server.


CAUSE

When a client boots, it tries a renew/discover process for the address that it previously owned. If the client does not receive a response to its request for a renewal or discover, the DHCP client waits five minutes before attempting to discover a new address.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:

For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

A new registry parameter has been added so that the client does not wait for five minutes before attempting to discover a new address. The process for obtaining an address is clearly stated in RFC 1541.
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).


  2. Locate the following key in the registry:


    3. HKEY_LOCAL_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dhcp\Parameters
  3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:


    4. Value Name: DhcpUseLargeNumberOfRequests
    Data Type: REG_DWORD
    Value: 1 (default is 0)
  4. Quit Registry Editor.



WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, run the following commands from the command prompt:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 NT4SP6Fix
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: October 28, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.