RFC 3397 (rfc3397) - Page 2 of 8

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Domain Search Option

Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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RFC 3397               DHCP Domain Search Option           November 2002


1.  Introduction

   The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) [RFC 2131] provides a
   mechanism for host configuration.  [RFC 2132] and [RFC 2937] allow DHCP
   servers to pass name service configuration information to DHCP
   clients.  In some circumstances, it is useful for the DHCP client to
   be configured with the domain search list.  This document defines a
   new DHCP option which is passed from the DHCP Server to the DHCP
   Client to specify the domain search list used when resolving
   hostnames with DNS.  This option applies only to DNS and does not
   apply to other name resolution mechanisms.

1.1.  Terminology

   This document uses the following terms:

   DHCP client
         A 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.

1.2.  Requirements Language

   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 "Key words for use in
   RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels" [RFC 2119].

2.  Domain Search Option Format

   The code for this option is 119.

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |     119       |     Len       |         Searchstring...
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                     Searchstring...
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   In the above diagram, Searchstring is a string specifying the
   searchlist.  If the length of the searchlist exceeds the maximum
   permissible within a single option (255 octets), then multiple
   options MAY be used, as described in "Encoding Long Options in the
   Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCPv4)" [RFC 3396].



Aboba & Cheshire            Standards Track
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