NetBSD/mac68k DHCP HOWTO

Dan McMahill, mcmahill@alum.mit.edu

1. Introduction and Purpose

• 1.1 What is DHCP?
• 1.2 Who needs to use DHCP?
• 1.3 Sources of More Detailed Information
• 1.4 Copyright and Disclaimers
• 1.5 Additions and Corrections
• 1.6 Contributors
• 1.7 Version History

2. Setting up a DHCP client

• 2.1 Enable DHCP
• 2.2 Configure DHCP
• 2.3 Update dhclient-script

3. Setting up a DHCP server

1. Introduction and Purpose

This document attempts to explain how to setup DHCP clients and servers for the NetBSD/mac68k operating system.

1.1 What is DHCP?

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It allows dynamic configuration of the network configuration of a host computer. The basic idea is this: When a DHCP client is turned on, it initially doesn't have an IP address assigned to it. It issues a broadcast message to any DHCP servers which are on the network. An exchange takes place during which the DHCP server assigns an IP address to the client and tells the client certain key network configuration parameters (such as name server addresses for example).

1.2 Who needs to use DHCP?

Many internet service providers (ISP's) require the use of DHCP. Another use is for laptop computers which may be connected to more than one network. For example a laptop may be connected to a network in the office and also at home. This is an ideal use for DHCP as the laptop doesn't need to be manually reconfigured for use in the 2 different networks.

1.3 Sources of More Detailed Information

I don't claim to be an expert (or anything resembling an expert for that matter) on DHCP. There is, however, detailed information available on the web. The defining document is RFC 1541, Request for Comments document for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). In addition there is a comprehensive DHCP FAQ.

1.4 Copyright and Disclaimers

Although I try to verify that the information contained within this HOWTO is correct, I accept no responsibility for loss or damage caused by the use of the information contained within this HOWTO.

This HOWTO is Copyright (c), 1998 by Dan McMahill.

1.5 Additions and Corrections

Please send all additions, suggestions, and corrections to Dan McMahill <mcmahill@alum.mit.edu>. If making a correction, please do not send a copy of the entire HOWTO. Just send the relevant text from the HOWTO plus the corrected text.

1.6 Contributors

The following people have contributed to the DHCP HOWTO:

• several, unfortunately I've lost their names. If you're one of them, let me know and I'll put your name here.

1.7 Version History

• June 6, 1998 - Original HOWTO written by Dan McMahill <mcmahill@alum.mit.edu>

2. Setting up a DHCP client

This section attempts to explain how to setup DHCP clients under NetBSD/mac68k. This document was written for NetBSD-1.3.

2.1 Enable DHCP

Edit /etc/netstart.local and add the line dhclient sn0. Substitute ae0 for sn0 if that's your ethernet driver. You should be able to see what driver you have during the NetBSD boot sequence or by looking at the output of dmesg. This causes the DHCP client software to be automatically started during the boot sequence.

send host-name "myname.my.domain";                 <=== Put your
                                                        hostname here.
send dhcp-client-identifier "myident";             <=== Put your host
                                                        identifier here.
							(this is often times
							 the same as myname).
request subnet-mask, broadcast-address, routers,
    domain-name-servers;

timeout 30;
retry 60;
select-timeout 5;

script "/etc/dhclient-script";

lease {
  interface "sn0";                               <=== put your interface
                                                      device here.
  option host-name "myname.my.domain";           <=== put your 
                                                      hostname here
  option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;
  option domain-name "my.domain";                <=== put your
                                                      domain name here
  option domain-name-servers 127.0.0.1;
  renew 2 2000/1/12 00:00:01;
  rebind 2 2000/1/12 00:00:01;
  expire 2 2000/1/12 00:00:01;
}

  # don't run DHCP on ae0 
  if [ $interface = "ae0" ]; then
    exit 0
  fi