Is there a DHCP timeout to speed up switching to APIPA

[Ramona]

A question to the experts,
I have a laptop configure with DHCP and APIPA.
In my company NW there is a DHCP Server and it works fine.
At home I have no DHCP Server and it takes too much time (nearly 60
seconds) to switch to the APIPA adress.
Does anybody know a way to change DHCP timeout parameter that would
speed-up
switch over to APIPA IP Configuration?

Ramona

 

[phoenix]

A question to the experts,
I have a laptop configure with DHCP and APIPA.
In my company NW there is a DHCP Server and it works fine.
At home I have no DHCP Server and it takes too much time (nearly 60
seconds) to switch to the APIPA adress.
Does anybody know a way to change DHCP timeout parameter that would
speed-up
switch over to APIPA IP Configuration?

Ramona

Why not just set an alternate configuration on the TCP/IP properties page?
It's there for the times your PC can't contact a DNS server. IIRC, the IP
you're getting is because you can't contact a DNS server not DHCP.

Regards

Bill

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

A question to the experts,
I have a laptop configure with DHCP and APIPA.
In my company NW there is a DHCP Server and it works fine.
At home I have no DHCP Server and it takes too much time (nearly 60
seconds) to switch to the APIPA adress.
Does anybody know a way to change DHCP timeout parameter that would
speed-up
switch over to APIPA IP Configuration?

Ramona,

I don't know whether and how that parameter can be changed, but
I have a different solution for you. Get a router.

Most routers have a built-in DHCP server. They also have a
firewall. And the possibility to connect more than one computer
to the Internet.

Hans-Georg

 

[Ramona]

Hallo Hans-Georg,
thanks for your reply and it is indeed a possible solution.
But I am sure there is somewhere a parameter to reduce the retry time.
Ramona

 

[Chuck]

Ramona,

I don't know whether and how that parameter can be changed, but
I have a different solution for you. Get a router.

Most routers have a built-in DHCP server. They also have a
firewall. And the possibility to connect more than one computer
to the Internet.

Hans-Georg

Ramona,

HanGeorg's advice, or the intent of it, is sound. If you have broadband
internet, PPP-compatible dialup internet, or no internet service, a NAT (aka
broadband) router will sort your problem by providing DHCP service. It will
also provide you necessary protection against hostile internet traffic.

Hans-Georg,

A router, in general, is not the same as a NAT router. A router does not have a
firewall, nor a DHCP server.

A NAT (aka broadband) router has, by definition, a Built-in DHCP server. And
the effect of NAT provides an amount of protection similar to that of a
firewall.

Not all NAT routers have firewalls, however. Some NAT routers use SPI, to
identify and block hostile incoming traffic. And some NAT routers have packet
filtering options. SPI and packet filtering are two, of many, firewall
features. But not all NAT routers have either, or both, features.
http://www.firewall-software.com/firewall_faqs/what_is_a_firewall.html
http://www.firewall-software.com/firewall_faqs/what_does_firewall_do.html
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=321050

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 11:28:59 +0100, Hans-Georg Michna

A router, in general, is not the same as a NAT router. A router does not have a
firewall, nor a DHCP server.

Chuck,

oh, sure! I was imprecise, should have said, "get a typical
broadband router".

Hans-Georg

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

thanks for your reply and it is indeed a possible solution.
But I am sure there is somewhere a parameter to reduce the retry time.

Ramona,

you are almost certainly right. The problem is to find it and to
change it. It could be hardcoded into the software. Then you'd
have to locate it and patch the program. Not for the
faint-hearted.

First I would look through the relevant areas in the registry
and check whether one of the parameters sounds as if it could be
the one.

Hans-Georg

 

[Ramona]

Thanks to all,
I will looking for a NAT Router
Many thanks
Ramona

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Thanks to all,
I will looking for a NAT Router
Many thanks

Ramona,

if your demands are low, i.e. mainly Web browsing and email,
occasional downloads, then a cheap broadband router like one
from SMC will suffice. I would avoid Linksys because of quality
concerns.

A big question is what kind of Internet connection you have. Do
you have DSL or cable Internet? If not, maybe a router isn't
such a good idea after all.

Hans-Georg

 

[Chuck]

Ramona,

if your demands are low, i.e. mainly Web browsing and email,
occasional downloads, then a cheap broadband router like one
from SMC will suffice. I would avoid Linksys because of quality
concerns.

A big question is what kind of Internet connection you have. Do
you have DSL or cable Internet? If not, maybe a router isn't
such a good idea after all.

Hans-Georg

Hans-Georg,

A NAT router is a very good idea for dialup service too, if it will work.
Anybody with PPP-compatible dialup (uses Dialup Networking for configuration of
the connection) can, and should also, use a NAT router.

A dialup NAT router provides security, speed, and stability. It's an all around
better choice.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 16:33:49 +0100, Hans-Georg Michna

A NAT router is a very good idea for dialup service too, if it will work.
Anybody with PPP-compatible dialup (uses Dialup Networking for configuration of
the connection) can, and should also, use a NAT router.

A dialup NAT router provides security, speed, and stability. It's an all around
better choice.

Chuck,

I agree, but there are some reservations concerning Internet
pricing. It depends on whether you get the Internet connection
for free or whether you have to pay by the minute. If you have
to pay, the NAT router has the disadvantage of keeping the
connection open until the inactivity timer kicks it off, i.e.
you end up paying more.

If UPnP works, you can have the router hang up, but it's usually
a bit awkward and requires a user action.

With a direct dial-up connection it's easier, because when you
close the browser or the email program or both, Windows can be
set to hang up automatically.

I must admit that I don't see these dial-up connections very
often, because most people around me have flat rate broadband
connections, so I may be overlooking something here or there.

Hans-Georg