KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q148412: Use of the "Seconds" Field for BOOTP Relay Agents

Article: Q148412
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 2000,3.5,3.51,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnetwork
Last Modified: 21-FEB-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server 
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Some BOOTP Relay Agents implement the use of the Seconds field in a Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Discover or BOOTP BOOTREQUEST packet as defined in
RFC 1542. This option will limit the clients Discover broadcast to the local
subnet until the seconds threshold is reached. This option can reduce network
traffic and increase the chance that a local server will service the request.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The Relay Agent will only forward the packet if the Seconds field is higher than
the threshold set. RFC recommends the default to be 4 seconds. The seconds field
is defined as the number of seconds from the first packet sent. For example, the
first packet sent will have a value of 0. The next packet sent would have a
value of 10, if it was sent 10 seconds after the first packet.

This feature is supported in the Windows NT BOOTP Relay Agent.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  ARTICLE-ID: Q138793
  TITLE : Multi-Protocol Router Installation and Configuration

RFC 1542 does not require BOOTP Relay Agents to support the Seconds field.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbnetwork 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : :2000,3.5,3.51,4.0

=============================================================================

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.