Network Working Group Nirupma Kulshreshtha
INTERNET DRAFT Novell Inc.
December 1999
Expires June 2000
The Migration Agent List Option for DHCP
<draft-ietf-dhc-migagntlist-00.txt>
Status of this Memo
This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with
all provisions of Section 10 of RFC2026. Internet-Drafts are working
documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), its areas,
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This document is a submission to the Dynamic Host Configuration
Working Group of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Comments
should be submitted to the dhcp-v4@bucknell.edu mailing list.
Abstract
This document defines a new DHCP option for delivering configuration
information to hosts utilizing the Compatibility Mode Driver (CMD)
provided with NovellÆs NetWare 5. This option is passed from the DHCP
server to the DHCP Client to provide the addresses of one or more
Migration Agents along with their CMD network number.
Introduction
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)[1] provides a
framework for passing configuration information to hosts on a TCP/IP
network. The Compatibility Mode Driver (CMD) provided with NetWare 5
facilitates smooth migration of networks from IPX and NetWare/IP, to
Pure IP. This component provides the necessary connectivity for IPX
Client/Server applications to communicate with nodes that connect to
the IP internet. It also allows IPX Client/Server applications to run
on IP Nodes.
Connectivity between IPX Nodes and IP Nodes is achieved through the
use of gateways called Migration Agents.
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Internet Draft December 1999
This document describes a DHCP option that carries addresses of one
or more Migration Agents along with their CMD Network number. The
addresses of Migration Agents are required by other Migration Agents
to discover new IPX Nodes.
Definitions
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY" and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [3].
This document also uses the following terms:
"DHCP client"
DHCP client or "client" is an Internet host using DHCP to
obtain configuration parameters such as a network address.
"DHCP server"
A DHCP server or "server" is an Internet host that returns
configuration parameters to DHCP clients.
Migration Agent List Option Format
The code for this option is TBD. The minimum length specified in the
æLenÆ field is 8 bytes, and this length MUST be a multiple of 8. This
option can contain addresses of multiple migration agents along with
their CMD Network number. The first four bytes specifies the IP
address (in hexadecimal format) of the Migration Agent, and the next
four bytes specifies the CMD Network number (in hexadecimal format)
of the Migration Agent.
Code Len IP Address CMD Network Number
+-----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+-
| TBD | 08 | a1 | a2 | a3 | a4 | n1 | n2 | n3 | n4 |
+-----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+-
In the above example, (0xa1a2a3a4) specifies the IP address of the
Migration Agent and (0xn1n2n3n4) specifies the CMD Network number of
the Migration Agent.
DHCP Client Behavior
The DHCP client will use this option to get the IP addresses of all
the Migration Agents in the CMD network in which the client is
present.
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Security Considerations
DHCP currently provides no authentication or security mechanisms.
Potential exposures to attack are discussed in section 7 of the DHCP
protocol specification [1]. In particular, these DHCP options allow
an unauthorized DHCP server to misdirect any client to a non existent
Migration Agent.
References
[1] Droms, R., "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol", RFC 2131, March
1997.
[2] Alexander, S. and Droms, R., "DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor
Extensions", RFC 2132, March 1997.
[3] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to indicate requirement
levels", RFC 2119, March 1997.
Author Information
Nirupma Kulshreshtha
Novell Software Development (I) Ltd.
49/1 & 49/3, Garvebhavipalya
7th Mile, Hosur Road,
Bangalore - 560 068. INDIA
Phone: +91(80)572-1856
email: knirupama@novell.com
Expiration
This document will expire on June 6, 2000.
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The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be
revoked by the Internet Society or its successors or assigns.
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This document and the information contained herein is provided on an
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