AIX DHCP Server and W2K Clients: help!

[Martin Trudeau]

Hi,

I am trying to set up a "simple" AIX DHCP server directly connected to
W2K/NT Clients (no routers). Everything is properly connected, but the
W2k client always return "unable to reach DHCP server". I am using AIX
4.3.3.11.

Using the DHCPSD log file, we can clearly see the DHCP protocol being
done correctly (DISCOVER-OFFER-REQUEST-ACK), but the server ACK
doesn't seem to be well received by the client. Here is a portion of
the log file:
----
[...]
incoming message size = 300 bytes
incoming DISCOVER message
Found client record for 1-00065bc52900
found address 10.11.12.25 in record
[...]
Using address 10.11.12.25 for 1-00065bc52900
Address, 10.11.12.25 , for 1-00065bc52900 is valid
[...]
building OFFER message
transmitting 300 bytes to 10.11.12.25:68
[...]
incoming message size = 307 bytes
incoming REQUEST message
client REQUEST from SELECT state
Found client record for 1-00065bc52900
found address 10.11.12.25 in record
Binding client to 10.11.12.25
building ACK message
transmitting 300 bytes to 10.11.12.25:68
exiting, returning 0
waiting to receive data ...
incoming message size = 307 bytes
incoming REQUEST message
client REQUEST from SELECT state
Found client record for 1-00065bc52900
found address 10.11.12.25 in record
Binding client to 10.11.12.25
building ACK message
transmitting 300 bytes to 10.11.12.25:68
exiting, returning 0
waiting to receive data ...
incoming message size = 307 bytes
incoming REQUEST message
client REQUEST from SELECT state
[...]
------
The client is always requesting the IP address and finally timeout.
What's wrong?

I've read that we need to add a 255.255.255.255 route to the host when
using Windows DHCP clients. How can we do this in AIX? When I try
"route add -host 255.255.255.255 -interface en1", it says
"255.255.255.255: bad value".

Can anybody help me?

Thank you

Martin

Here is the dhcpsd.cnf that I use:
#
numLogFiles 1
logFileSize 1000
logFileName dhcpsd.log
logItem SYSERR
logItem OBJERR
logItem PROTERR
logItem WARNING
logItem EVENT
logItem ACTION
logItem INFO
logItem ACNTING
logItem TRACE
#
#
leaseTimeDefault 30 minutes
leaseExpireInterval 3 minutes
supportBOOTP no
supportUnlistedClients no
#
#
#
option 3 10.11.12.1
option 28 10.11.12.255
option 33 255.255.255.255:255.255.255.255
#
network 10.11.12.0 10.11.12.10-10.11.12.50
{
client 1 00065bc52900 10.11.12.25 #
client 1 00c03a120350 10.11.12.15 #
}
#

[Eriklovesleona]

Hello gtheir. Was just looking at your logfile, and was wondering what is
going on within the W2k clients. Obviously, I can see that there is
interactions between the /dev/eth0 interface, but does W2k have a debug mode so
you could send us a trace of the TCP/ip data? Also, if not using a router, I
would expect that you're using a hub? What firewall software are you using?
One thing to check is to whether the propper UDP ports are open (don't remember
specifically what they are for DHCP), but if not correctly configured, you
won't have any success, since DHCP uses UDP to send/recv broadcast messages.
Also, does the dhcp server advertise dns, etc. to the clients? Just something
to think about here.
--Erik