ipconfig

Abstract: A system and method for providing Internet access via a Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN) using full time asymmetric digital subscriber line connections between subscriber premises processor terminals and a local area network (LAN) node and router gateway on Telco premises connected to a Telco digital packet network connected to Internet service providers and Internet information providers. A domain name server (DNS) and a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server are connected to the router to provide domain name to IP address translations and temporary assignment of IP addresses to said customer premises processor terminal. The customer or subscriber going on-line communicates with the DHCP using encryption and preferably public/private key encryption to both authenticate the customer and the DHCP. The DHCP updates the database in the DNS to maintain freshness. The digital packets in the network use several protocols with a TCP/IP payload encapsulated therein without the need for translation or conversion.

Abstract: The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCP) enables DHCP servers to pass configuration parameters such as IPv6 network addresses to IPv6 nodes. It offers the capability of automatic allocation of reusable network addresses and additional configuration flexibility. This protocol is a stateful counterpart to "IPv6 Stateless Address Autoconfiguration" (RFC 2462), and can be used separately or concurrently with the latter to obtain configuration parameters.

Abstract: In a broadband cable data network (10), a method and system for automatically allocating network resources such as IP addresses to control access to the network utilizes at least one DHCP server (12), and a common network database formed from a LDAP directory (22) for storing respective user configuration parameters, hardware address registration, and current binding information. A DHCP server (12) can add new hardware address registrations to the LDAP using an 'unregistered' service class. The DHCP server sends a DHCP reply tailored for unregistered devices, such as by allocating a privately-allocated IP address with no Internet access, or an IP address for a self-provisioning web server. A DHCP server views IP address allocation as having a short duration. Thus, if the IP network configuration does not change, user terminal will continue to receive the same allocated IP address due to the DHCP server's perception of an indefinite lease. The consistency of the IP addresses simplifies many operational concerns about dynamic addresses, such as minimizing DNS (domain name service) hostname updates, mapping IP addresses to user terminals during security incidents, etc.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a method and apparatus for allocating and using IP addresses in a network of client systems. More specifically, the present invention includes a DHCP server that leases IP addresses to the client systems. The DHCP server works in combination with a secure DHCP relay agent and a secure IP relay agent. Broadcast DHCPREQUEST messages are forwarded to the DHCP server by the secure DHCP relay agent. Before forwarding, the secure DHCP relay agent embeds a trusted identifier in each DHCPREQUEST message. The trusted identifier is an unforgeable object specifically associated with the client system sending the DHCPREQUEST message. When the DHCP server receives the DHCPREQUEST message, the DHCP server extracts the trusted identifier. The trusted identifier is then used by the DHCP server to prevent client systems from accessing the IP address leases of other client systems. The DHCP server also counts the number of IP addresses leases assigned to each trusted identifier. In this way, each client system is prevented from leasing more than a predetermined number of IP addresses. Unicast DHCPREQUEST messages received by the DHCP server include a source address that corresponds to the client system sending the unicast DHCPREQUEST message. The validity of the source address is ensured by the secure IP relay agent. The DHCP server uses the source address to prevent client systems from accessing the IP address leases of other client systems.