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DHCP client service in Linux

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Did you know you don’t need a DHCP client?

you can use the kernel autoconfiguration to setup your network working, just add ip=dhcp.

Are there any particular kernel modules needed for that?

Nope, you can use the netboot hint to see all the options required http://documents.jg555.com/netboot

Jim Gifford is the person I have to credit for this tidbit of information.
someone was discussing the lack of dhcp client software in the linux from scratch sources.
in a discussion on the lack of an http client tool to download packages with to add more software on an lfs system.
[ ftp is supported for this purpose, but you have to stop and think to realise it 😉 ]

edited for typos

Topic

Nice. I’ll try it.

In reply to DHCP client service in Linux

😀

I like

In reply to Nice. I’ll try it.

reading the lfs-help email list, I find interesting little features in linux like this. 🙂

an addendum

In reply to DHCP client service in Linux

According to:

http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0203.1/1087.html,

the kernel-level DHCP features are meant more for things like netboot mounting the root filesystem using NFS and not general usage, as a userland DHCP client is going to be more robust and generally more useful than the kernel one.

I was thinking that it would be good for net booting.

In reply to an addendum

Still, if it works in your environment for your DHCP requirements, then it must be robust enough to use. The only potential problem is if someone else comes in to diagnose a DHCP problem and doesn’t see a DHCP script they will misdiagnose the cause of the problem.

Too bad, though. 😀

well

In reply to I was thinking that it would be good for net booting.

I’m all static ips, so I don’t use it myself.
If someone with a small network needs to use it for a low end system that isn’t resource rich then it’s a handy tool option, if you are doung thin client networking then it’s a useful tool.

after all, you can’t use tftp to transfer the boot files if you don’t have an ip address 😀

The funny thing is that LFS is designed as a tool to let you learn more about the os, yet it’s never mentioned in any linux courses.

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