DOCUMENT:Q130929 08-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :DHCP Seconds Field Limits Forwarding of Packets by Relay Agents PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:3.51 4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbnetwork ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Windows NT 3.51, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) clients set the seconds field in the DHCP message to zero in the initial DHCP packet. This field is incremented for every subsequent DHCP packet retransmitted by the client. The DHCP relay agents may be configured with a non-zero threshold value for the seconds field (a value of 4 is recommended). This prevents relay agents from forwarding all DHCP packets with the seconds field set to a value less than the threshold value. If there is a DHCP server in the local subnet that has an available address for lease, it will respond to the initial DHCP packet. The client then does not have to retransmit that DHCP packet with a higher number in the seconds field which will be forwarded by the relay agent. This considerably reduces the number of DHCP packets forwarded to other subnets by the relay agent. Additional query words: prodnt prodnt wins tcpip ====================================================================== Keywords : kbnetwork Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search Version : 3.51 4.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.