Cisco Technology, Inc.

Kenneth Kinnear, Jr

Mark Stapp

Richard A Johnson

Bernard Ernst Volz

Jayadev Kumarasamy

Richard Woundy

Mickael James Graham

Joshua B Littlefield

Jeffrey Riddel

Timothy Webb

Erik J Synnestvedt

Greg Morris

Neil Russell

Michael Reekie

Lon-Leighton Barrett

James Timothy Brown

Samer Seoud

Michael Hansen

In an embodiment, a data processing apparatus comprising one or more electronic digital processors; Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server logic coupled to the one or more processors; an active leasequery channel response logic coupled to the DHCP server logic which when executed causes the one or more processors to perform receiving, from a particular DHCP client among a plurality of DHCP clients, an active leasequery initiation message requesting the DHCP server logic to actively send update messages about changes in network address leases that the DHCP server logic manages; wherein the active leasequery initiation message comprises a channel identifier value; determining whether the channel identifier value matches a client class that the DHCP server logic manages; in response to determining that the channel identifier value does match a client class identifier that the DHCP server logic manages, sending, to the particular DHCP client, one or more DHCP response messages describing any changes in network address leases that the DHCP server logic performs only for a subset of the DHCP clients that are in the matched client class.

Actively updating clients with selected data

A technique is performed in a first device of a set of devices. The technique involves receiving a query message from a network node, the query message requesting data regarding a network resource. The technique further involves accessing an identifier which indicates whether the first device is in charge of the network resource, and providing a response message to the network node in response to the query message. The response message is provided after waiting a predefined amount of time when the identifier indicates that the first device is not in charge of the network resource and there is reason to believe another device of the set is operating. The response message is provided without waiting the predefined amount of time when the identifier indicates that the first device is in charge of the network resource. Moreover in some situations, the first device may choose to not respond.

Responding to a DHCPLEASEQUERY message

As a server device receives packets from a client device, the server device counts the number of packets received over a particular time interval and compares the result with a preset packet transmission threshold. When the number of packets received from the client device in the time period reaches or exceeds the packet threshold, the server device can detect a potential malfunction of the client device and as such, refrains from processing further packets from the client device. By rate limiting based upon the number of packets received from the client device over a given time interval, rather than on the bandwidth taken by the requests received from the client device, the server device can minimize monopolization of the server device's resources as caused by the packets received at a relatively low rate from a client device.

Method and apparatus for rate limiting client requests

In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors; logic coupled to the one or more processors for execution and configured to perform receiving, from a second computer, a request for information about a first address of a customer premises equipment (CPE) device and including a second address of the second computer; determining that an address record of the first address identifies a third address, which is different from the second address, for a termination unit associated with the CPE device; in response to the determining: causing the generating and sending of one or more updates of inter-domain routing protocol information for the CPE device; updating the address record by storing the second address in a location that identifies the termination unit that is associated with the CPE device.

Dynamically transitioning static network addresses

A method performed by a DHCP server. The method involves receiving a transformation instruction from a user or other command source. The method further involves in response to receiving a request from a client for a network address, applying the transformation instruction to the client request to generate a client identity pattern; and assigning a network address from a pool of network addresses to the client based on the client identity pattern. Apparatus for use in practicing the method are also claimed.

Computed client identifier in DHCP

Techniques for managing leased network addresses for multiple networks using overlapping address spaces include storing banks of addresses corresponding to the multiple networks. A request for a network address for a host on a first network is received from a relay agent on an intermediate device. The request includes a qualifier associated with the first network by the relay agent. A first bank of addresses is selected based on the qualifier. A first network address from the first bank is identified based at least in part on the request. A response for the host is sent to the relay agent. The response indicates the first network address and the qualifier. Thus a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server can provide the same network address for several hosts spread over different networks, such as different virtual private networks (VPNs).

Techniques for dynamic host configuration using overlapping network addresses

Techniques for providing sets of network addresses for dynamically configuring hosts on a network include sending to a first server a first request for a first count of network addresses in a first set of network addresses. A first message indicating the first set of network addresses is received. A second message is received from a second server that requests a second count of network addresses for a second set of network addresses. The second set of network addresses is determined based at least in part on the first set of network addresses and the second count. In response to the second message, a first response indicating the second set is sent to the second server. The techniques allow an administrator to enter available subnets at any DHCP server. The DHCP servers using these techniques then automatically apportion subnets among each other based on the relative usage of the subnets.

Techniques for automatically delegating address spaces among dynamic host configuration servers

A method and apparatus for providing network addresses for hosts on a network includes generating and storing network configuration information in a subnet management process, where a subnet is a set of contiguous network addresses. The network configuration information indicates network addresses to be distributed among a plurality of network devices. Policy information is also generated and stored. The policy information indicates a policy set of one or more policy processes. Each policy process selects an available subnet from available network addresses. A request for a subnet is received from a subnet requesting process. A particular subnet is determined based on the network configuration information, the request, and the policy set. A response indicating the particular subnet is sent to the subnet requesting process. These techniques allow an administrator to choose a policy for selecting subnets that better utilizes network resources for a wide range of network architectures.

Techniques for selecting available subnets for delegation among dynamic host configuration servers

Techniques for dynamic host configuration using overlapping network

A method for providing leased network addresses for a host from a server executing on a server device is disclosed. A first request for a leased network address from the host, relayed by an intermediate device, is received. The intermediate device filters communications between the host and the server device. A response is generated for the host, by the server, which offers a leased network address for a particular period of time and includes a network address of the intermediate device. The network address of the intermediate device is provided in a portion of the response normally designated for indicating a network address of the server. By providing the address of the intermediate device in the portion of the response designated for the server address, the server causes the client to send renewal requests to the intermediate device so that a relay process on the intermediate device can properly operate on the request, without modifying the client process.

Techniques for dynamic host configuration without direct communications between client and server

A method for establishing class of service configuration in a network device of a broadband cable network using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is disclosed. A request to obtain a network address presented using DHCP is received from a network interface unit over the cable network, generally upon boot up of the network interface unit. A DHCP message is received from a registration center, and the message includes a network address and a quality of service code value associated with the network interface unit. Based on the quality of service code value, a quality of service configuration is established in the cable network for the network interface unit. As a result, quality of service information is obtained for each network interface unit in the network, specifically when the network interface unit is activated, and as part of its boot-up sequence. Carrying the quality of service information in a DHCP message enables configuration of the network rapidly and without introducing an additional protocol.

Method and apparatus for establishing class of service configuration in a network device of a broadband cable network using dynamic host configuration protocol

Growing community of inventors

Boxborough, MA, United States of America

Kenneth Kinnear, Jr