Configuration files

Configuration settings in Windows for Workgroups are stored in two files, SYSTEM.INI and PROTOCOL.INI. SYSTEM.INI contains system configuration settings, while PROTOCOL.INI contains network configuration settings.

DHCP configuration settings are stored in a hidden binary file called DHCP.BIN located in the Windows directory.

6.4.3 IPCONFIG

IPCONFIG is a command line utility that allows a user to diagnose the state of the TCP/IP network configuration. IPCONFIG also allows administrators to release and renew DHCP- assigned IP addresses.

The IPCONFIG command has the following syntax:

ipconfig { /all | /release | /renew }

/all

Displays full TCP/IP configuration information for all bound network adapters.

/release

Releases the IP address for the specified network adapter.

/renew

Renews the IP address for the specified network adapter.

6.5 MS-DOS

A DHCP client is included with the Microsoft Network Client v3.0 for MS-DOS. If you need DHCP support for a DOS-based workstation, this is what you will need to make it happen. Install the Microsoft Network Client v3.0 for MS-DOS, which can be found on the Windows NT Server Installation CD.

To retrieve the Microsoft Network Client v3.0 for MS-DOS from the Windows NT Server CD, go to the Clients\MSCLIENT directory. There you will find two subdirectories, Disks and Netsetup. The Disks directory is for making diskettes while the Netsetup directory is for network installations. It takes exactly two diskettes to make the installation disk set.

To install the Microsoft Network Client v3.0 for MS-DOS, follow these steps:

1. Change to the directory containing the installation files. Type SETUP . A welcome screen is displayed (see Figure 6.18). Press Enter to set up the Network Client.

Figure 6.18. MS-DOS Network Client setup

2. Specify the location Setup will copy the Network Client files to, or select the default, C:\NET.

Figure 6.19. Specifying username

4. The next screen lists the options you selected, such as username, setup options, and network configuration (see Figure 6.20). Using the arrow keys, highlight Change Network Configuration and press Enter.

Figure 6.20. Changing MS-DOS Network Client settings

5. In the Network Configuration screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Add Adapter. Select the correct network adapter for your computer and press Enter. Now highlight Add Protocol, select Microsoft TCP/IP, and press Enter (see Figure 6.21).

6. Using the Tab key, toggle to the "Installed Network Adapter(s) and Protocol(s)" box. Using the arrow keys, highlight Microsoft TCP/IP. Toggle to the Options box using the Tab key again, then highlight Change Settings.

A screen is displayed showing TCP/IP configuration settings (see Figure 6.22). By default, DHCP should be enabled. Verify that Disable Automatic Configuration is set to 0. If it is set to 1 (disabled), press Enter and select 0. Highlight "The listed options are correct" and press Enter.

Figure 6.22. Specifying TCP/IP parameters

7. Continue pressing Enter until Setup begins copying the files. When complete, Setup prompts you to reboot your computer.

Once the computer restarts, it receives an IP address from an available DHCP server. 6.5.1 DHCP Client Configuration Details

The following sections provide additional DHCP client configuration information for MS- DOS systems.

6.5.1.1 Supported DHCP options

The DHCP client found in the Network Client for MS-DOS supports the following DHCP options:

Subnet Mask Option (1)

This option specifies the subnet mask to be used by the client. Routers Option (3)

This option specifies the default gateway.

Domain Name Option (15)

Domain Name Servers Option (6)

This option lists the DNS servers to be used for hostname resolution by the client.

NetBIOS Name Servers Option (44)

This option lists the WINS servers to be used for NetBIOS name resolution by the client.

NetBIOS Node Type Option (46)

This option determines the NetBIOS node type to be used by the client.

NetBIOS Scope Option (47)

This option specifies the NetBIOS scope ID to be used by the client.

6.5.1.2 Configuration files

Configuration settings in the Network Client for MS-DOS are stored in two files, SYSTEM.INI and PROTOCOL.INI. SYSTEM.INI contains system configuration settings, while PROTOCOL.INI contains network configuration settings.

6.5.2 IPCONFIG

IPCONFIG in the Network Client for MS-DOS differs from the IPCONFIG that ships with Windows for Workgroups and Windows NT. It does not support any of the switches (all, release, and renew) and merely displays configuration information.

6.6 Summary

In this chapter, I covered the Microsoft DHCP clients, including brief overviews of each of the operating systems the DHCP client is from.

Windows 2000 Professional includes an improved DHCP client with support for additional DHCP options, such as the Perform Router Discovery (31) and Static Route (33) Options. Windows 2000 also includes Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA), which automatically assigns the workstation an IP address in the event that the workstation could not contact a DHCP server. The IPCONFIG utility in Windows 2000 is used to maintain and configure the DHCP client. It includes some new functions relating to the tight integration between DHCP and DNS in Windows 2000.

Windows NT Workstation 4.0 also includes a DHCP client with support for many basic DHCP options. Like Windows 2000, the IPCONFIG utility is used to maintain and configure the DHCP client.

Windows 9x, which includes Windows 95 and Windows 98, includes a DHCP client as well. It uses a graphical interface called WINIPCFG to maintain and configure the DHCP client.

Windows for Workgroups, while nowhere near as dominant as it once was, can still be found in some older networks. It did not ship with a DHCP client, but the client can be obtained from the Windows NT Server CD-ROM or the Microsoft web site. It includes basic DHCP functionality.

Finally, MS-DOS was the last DHCP client discussed. Again, like Windows for Workgroups, MS-DOS does not include DHCP support. A DHCP client can be obtained from the Windows NT Server CD-ROM or the Microsoft web site. And again, the client includes basic DHCP functionality.