Configuring a Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 DHCP Server for Unicast

 Last reviewed: March 28, 1997
Article ID: Q161429
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SUMMARY

By default, the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 DHCP server sends all DHCP responses as IP broadcasts to the limited broadcast address (255.255.255.255). However, the DHCP server can be configured to unicast responses if the client request specifies that a broadcast response is not required.

MORE INFORMATION

Versions of the DHCP server prior to Windows NT 4.0 ignored the broadcast flag in client DHCP packets, and broadcast all replies. Version 4.0 of the DHCP server supports unicasting via the following registry parameter:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE 

 \CurrentControlSet
  \Services
   \DHCPServer
    \Parameters
     \IgnoreBroadcastFlag

     Parameter Type: REG_DWORD
     Default: 1
     Description:  If set to 1, the broadcast flag in client requests is
     ignored, and all DHCP packets are broadcast from the server. If set
     to 0, the behavior (whether to broadcast or not) is controlled by the
     broadcast flag in the client request that is being responded to.
The Networks.wri file also contains a description of this parameter.

Additional query words:
Keywords : kbnetwork NTSrv nttcp
Version : 4.0
Platform : WinNT

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Last reviewed: March 28, 1997
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