DHCP Discover Packet Secs Field Contains Incorrect Value (263537)

SYMPTOMS

The second and subsequent DHCP Discover packets that are generated by Windows 98 Second Edition during address leasing or lease renewal contains an incorrect value in the "secs" field. This value is an arbitrary number of seconds between 0 and 65535. Note that some routers and network-monitoring tools may interpret the field as signed. Under these conditions, the value is seen to vary between -32768 and +32767.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

   Date        Time     Version    Size    File name
   -------------------------------------------------
   05/31/2000  07:49am  4.10.2225  65,279  Vdhcp.386

WORKAROUND

For networks with no local DHCP server, setting the router BOOTP Delay Threshold to 0 forces the initial DHCP Discover packet to be passed.

Installations that do have local DHCP servers can use this same strategy temporarily.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

148412 Use of the 'Seconds' Field for BOOTP Relay Agents

For additional information about Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition hotfixes, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

206071 General Information About Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition Hotfixes