Re: DHCP & Windows95

"Alan S. Dobkin" <ADobkin@emory.edu> Wed, 18 September 1996 06:03 UTC

Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 01:54:01 -0400
Message-Id: <MailDrop1.2d7PPC.960918012559@kennesaw2.cc.emory.edu>
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From: "Alan S. Dobkin" <ADobkin@emory.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <dhcp-v4@bucknell.edu>
Subject: Re: DHCP & Windows95
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On Tue, 17 Sep 96 14:34:02 MDT JRoccaforte@vines.ColoState.EDU 
(John A Roccaforte) wrote:

>We are setting up a dhcp server on a RISC 6000 running AIX 4.1.4  and are
>doing fine with Windos 3.11 and Apple MAC/TCP and TCP/IP.  Windows 95 will
>not however talk to our server.
>
>I have heard a rumor that Windows 95 DHCP will only work with the NT Server
>software.  Have you heard anything to this effect?
>
>Regards

No, this rumor is *not* true.  However, Windows95 has a known (but not 
published) bug in its DHCP code and a respective (but not available) patch 
for it.  The original Windows95 DHCP code apparently times out after only 
a few seconds, which is often not enough time for most servers to assign 
an address, especially if the server is located in another subnet or if it 
pings the address before assigning it.  Microsoft has developed an updater 
named VDHCPUPD.EXE to patch this problem, however they have not publically 
released it in their software library, included it in their service packs, 
or even mentioned it anywhere on their web site.  After much research, a 
lot of frustrating calls to MS tech. support, and some complaining, I 
eventually got them to send me this patch.  Unfortunately, I am afraid to 
distribute it, as the last thing I need is a software piracy suit from MS.  

So, that's what I know.  I am copying this message to several various DHCP 
lists with the hope that this may answer some similar questions elsewhere, 
and possibly wake up someone at Microsoft to see that we need this patch!

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Re: DHCP & Windows95 Alan S. Dobkin