Configuration of routers for DHCP service requests
First Claim
1. A method of configuring a router to provide DHCP IP address services to a number of network clients sending messages to the router to request IP addresses, wherein the network clients connect to a network via the router which is under the control of a control system, the method comprising the steps of:
- i) obtaining configuration instructions at the router by sending messages from the router to the control system to request configurations for DHCP services;
ii) receiving, at the router from the control system, configuration instructions generated by the control system based on a determination of whether the router should act, for a network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server or a relay agent for an external DHCP server, wherein said determination is made by the control system according to at least one pre-defined criterion; and
iii)) configuring the router in accordance with the configuration instructions to;
a) in response to at least one client request, act as a DHCP server and provide an IP address; and
b) in response to at least one other client request, act as a relay agent and forward the request from said at least one other client to an external DHCP server and forward an IP address response from the external DHCP server to said at least one other client.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of configuring a router to provide DHCP IP address services to a number of network clients sending messages to the router to request IP addresses, the network clients connecting to a network via the router which is under the control of a control system, the method includes obtaining configuration instructions for the router by sending messages from the router to the control system to request configurations for DHCP services, sending configuration instructions from the control system to the router, and configuring the router in accordance with the configuration instructions.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of configuring a router to provide DHCP IP address services to a number of network clients sending messages to the router to request IP addresses, wherein the network clients connect to a network via the router which is under the control of a control system, the method comprising the steps of:
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i) obtaining configuration instructions at the router by sending messages from the router to the control system to request configurations for DHCP services; ii) receiving, at the router from the control system, configuration instructions generated by the control system based on a determination of whether the router should act, for a network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server or a relay agent for an external DHCP server, wherein said determination is made by the control system according to at least one pre-defined criterion; and iii)) configuring the router in accordance with the configuration instructions to; a) in response to at least one client request, act as a DHCP server and provide an IP address; and b) in response to at least one other client request, act as a relay agent and forward the request from said at least one other client to an external DHCP server and forward an IP address response from the external DHCP server to said at least one other client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A router within a network system comprising the router, a number of network clients, and a network control system, wherein the network clients connect to a network via the router and the router is under the control of the control system, the router being configured to:
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i) obtain configuration instructions by sending messages from the router to the control system to request configurations for DHCP services; ii) receive, by the router from the control system, configuration instructions generated by the control system based on a determination of whether the router should act, for a network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server or a relay agent for an external DHCP server, wherein said determination is made by the control system according to at least one pre-defined criterion; iii) in accordance with the configuration instructions, act, in response to at least one client request, as a DHCP server and provide an IP address; and act, in response to at least one other client request, as a relay agent and forward the request from said at least one other client to an external DHCP server and to forward an IP address response from the external DHCP server to said at least one other client. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of instructing a router to provide DHCP IP address services to a number of network clients sending messages to the router to request IP addresses, wherein the network clients connect to a network via the router which is under the control of a control system, the method comprising:
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i) receiving, at the control system from a router, a message for requesting configuration instructions for DHCP services; ii) determining, by the control system based on at least one pre-defined criterion, whether the router should act, for a network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server or a relay agent for an external DHCP server; iii) sending, from the control system to the router, configuration instructions generated by the control system based on said determining for configuring the router to; a) in response to at least one client request, act as a DHCP server and provide an IP address; and b) in response to at least one other client request, act as a relay agent and forward the request from said at least one other client to an external DHCP server and forward an IP address response from the external DHCP server to said at least one other client. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A control system within a network system comprising a number of routers and a number of network clients, wherein each network client connects to a network via an associated router and the router is under the control of the control system, wherein the control system comprises at least one processor coupled to a memory, the control system being configured to:
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i) receive, from a router, a message for requesting configuration instructions for DHCP services; ii) determine, based on at least one pre-defined criterion, whether the router should act, for a network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server or a relay agent for an external DHCP server; iii) send, from the control system to the router, configuration instructions generated by the control system based on said determining for configuring the router to; a) in response to at least one client request, act as a DHCP server and provide an IP address; and b) in response to at least one other client request, act as a relay agent and forward the request from said at least one other client to an external DHCP server and forward an IP address response from the external DHCP server to said at least one other client. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of configuring a router to provide DHCP IP address services to a number of network clients sending messages to the router to request IP addresses, wherein the network clients connect to a network via the router which is under the control of a control system, the method comprising:
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i) in response to a request for IP address received at the router, the router determining whether it should act, for a network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server or a relay agent for an external DHCP server, wherein said determining is based on at least one pre-defined criterion; ii) configuring the router to; a) act as a DHCP server and to provide an IP address to the network client, when it is determined that the router should act, for the network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server; and b) act as a relay agent and forward the request from at least one other client to an external DHCP server and forward an IP address, when it is determined that the router should act, for said at least one other client requesting an IP address from the router as a relay agent for an external DHCP server, response from the external DHCP server to said at least one other client.
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18. A router within a network system comprising a number of routers, a number of network clients, and a network control system, wherein each network client connects to a network via an associated router and the router is under the control of the control system, the router being configured to:
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i) determine, in response to a request for IP address received at the router, whether it should act, for a network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server or a relay agent for an external DHCP server, wherein said determining is based on at least one pre-defined criterion; ii) a) act as a DHCP server and to provide an IP address, when it is determined that the router should act, for the network client requesting an IP address from the router, as a DHCP server; and b) act as a relay agent and forward the request from at least one other client to an external DHCP server and forward an IP address response from the external DHCP server to said at least one other client, when it is determined that the router should act, for said at least one other client requesting an IP address from the router as a relay agent for an external DHCP server.
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Specification