Is a DHCP client “supposed to” be able to use a BOOTP server?
The RFC on such interoperability (1534) is clear: “A DHCP client MAY use a reply from a BOOTP server if the configuration returned from the BOOTP server is acceptable to the DHCP client.” (section 3). The word “MAY” indicates such support, however useful, is left as an option. • Can a DHCP client or server make a DNS server update the client’s DNS entry to match the client’s dynamically assigned address? RFCs 2136 and 2137 indicate a way in which DNS entries can be updated dynamically. Using this requires a DNS server that supports this feature and a DHCP server that makes use of it. The RFCs are very recent (as of 5/97) and implementations are few. In the mean time, there are DNS and DHCP servers that accomplish this through proprietary means. • Can a DHCP server back up another DHCP server? You can have two or more servers handing out leases for different addresses. If each has a dynamic pool accessible to the same clients, then even if one server is down, one of those clients can le
