Subject: DHCP 'Release' Request
To: None <netbsd-help@netbsd.org, port-i386@netbsd.org>
From: Graham Jenkins <c714553@vus415.telstra.com.au>
List: port-i386
Date: 12/31/1999 19:54:27
Help!  We have a problem with our NetBSD machines being used as relocatable
X-Terminals - both i386 and sparc - running 1.4.1, 1.4, and 1.3.x ..

Specifically - we tend to use these boxes at one location for several weeks,
then temporarily or otherwise move them to other places (on different LAN
segments).  So we have them make a DHCP request for an 11-day lease at boot
time.

And when they get relocated, sometimes they suck down a new IP address which
works - and sometimes they suck down their old one - which doesn't work.
I think what is happening is that the (NT) DHCP servers - over which I have
no control - decide that a particular MAC address will have a designated IP
address until it's lease expires - regardless of which segment it is on.

On our NT workstations, we can get arround this by doing something like:
  ipconfig /release .. then ipconfig /renew

So - is there a way we can accomplish something similar for NetBSD - like
a) Change 'send dhcp-client-identifier' - doesn't seem to work - servers seem to
   see real MAC address only
b) Some sort of 'release/renew' deal as above - how ??
c) Or some sort of 'give me any address except the nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn' deal - how?

If all else fails, I guess I can change 'send dhcp-lease-time' down to
perhaps 15 minutes - and hope that it overrides whatever sort of lease the
servers think they should assign.

Any ideas, guys?

G.