User Guide

Table Of Contents
DHCP Server Settings 1127
What are DHCP Options?
DHCP options are collections of data with type codes that indicate how the
options should be used. Options can specify information that is required for
the DHCP protocol, IP stack configuration parameters for the client,
information allowing the client to rendezvous with DHCP servers, and so on.
When a client broadcasts a request for information, the request includes the
option codes that correspond to the information the client wants the DHCP
server to supply. The Web pages and CLI commands to configure DHCP
server settings include many predefined options for the information that is
most commonly requested by DHCP clients. For example, DHCP client
discover requests typically include options for the IP address (option 50),
subnet mask (option 1), default gateway (option 3), and DNS server (option
6). These options are predefined.
For options that are not predefined, the option code can be entered and the
data type can be specified, along with the data that the switch should include
in DHCP offers. RFC2132 specifies many of the DHCP options. Additional
options are described in later RFCs.
What Additional DHCP Features Does the Switch Support?
The switch software includes a DHCP client that can request network
information from a DHCP server on the network during the initial system
configuration process. For information about enabling the DHCP client, see
"Setting the IP Address and Other Basic Network Information" on page 189.
If the switch is functioning as a Layer-3 device, the Layer-3 DHCP Relay
Agent (IP Helper) can relay DHCP messages between DHCP clients and
DHCP servers that are located in different IP subnets.
The DHCP L2 relay feature permits L3 relay agent functionality in Layer-2
switched networks. The switch supports L2 DHCP relay configuration on
individual ports, link aggregation groups (LAGs) and VLANs. For information
about Layer-2 and Layer-3 DHCP Relay, see "Layer-2 and Layer-3 Relay
Features" on page 1191.
Additionally, the switch may be configured to perform DHCP validation as
protection against spoofed DHCP Release messages. For further information,
see Section 33, "Layer-2 and Layer-3 Relay Features" on page 1191