Network Working Group B. Volz
Request for Comments: 3942 Cisco Systems, Inc.
Updates: 2132 November 2004
Category: Standards Track
Reclassifying Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
version 4 (DHCPv4) Options
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).
Abstract
This document updates RFC 2132 to reclassify Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol version 4 (DHCPv4) option codes 128 to 223
(decimal) as publicly defined options to be managed by IANA in
accordance with RFC 2939. This document directs IANA to make these
option codes available for assignment as publicly defined DHCP
options for future options.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Requirements Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3. Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3.1. Publicly Defined Options Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3.2. Site-Specific Options Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
4. Reclassifying Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
5. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
6. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
7. Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
8. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
8.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
8.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Full Copyright Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Volz Standards Track [Page 1]RFC 3942 Reclassifying DHCPv4 Options November 20041. Introduction
The DHCPv4 [RFC2131] publicly defined options range, options 1 - 127,
is nearly used up. Efforts such as [RFC3679] help extend the life of
this space, but ultimately the space will be exhausted.
This document reclassifies much of the site-specific option range,
which has not been widely used for its original intended purpose, to
extend the publicly defined options space.
2. Requirements Notation
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 [RFC2119].
3. Background
The DHCP option space (0 - 255) is divided into two ranges [RFC2132]:
1. 1 - 127 are publicly defined options, now allocated in accordance
with [RFC2939].
2. 128 - 254 are site-specific options.
Options 0 (pad) and 255 (end) are special and defined in [RFC2131].
3.1. Publicly Defined Options Range
The publicly defined options space (1 - 127) is nearly exhausted.
Recent work [RFC3679] will buy more time, as several allocated but
unused option codes have been reclaimed. A review could be made from
time to time to determine whether there are other option codes that
can be reclaimed.
A longer-term solution to the eventual exhaustion of the publicly
defined options space is desired. The DHC WG evaluated several
solutions:
1. Using options 126 and 127 to carry 16-bit options as originally
proposed by Ralph Droms in late 1996. However, this significantly
penalizes the first option assigned to this new space, as it
requires implementing the 16-bit option support. Because of this,
options 126 and 127 have been reclaimed [RFC3679].
2. Using a new magic cookie and 16-bit option code format. However,
this proposal
Volz Standards Track [Page 2]RFC 3942 Reclassifying DHCPv4 Options November 2004
* penalizes the first option assigned to this new space, as it
requires significant changes to clients, servers, and relay
agents,
* could adversely impact existing clients, servers, and relay
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