DHCP Search timeout / Multi-homing

[Jack B. Pollack]

I have a laptop that I use at several locations. Most of the locations use a
DHCP, but a few require fixed IPs.
I have the NIC set for DHCP with the alternate settings set to the fixed IP
info. This works fin except it takes the computer 60 seconds or so before
the search for DHCP times out and it defaults to the fixed settings.

Is there a way to reduce the DHCP search timeout so it will default to the
fixed settings faster?

If not, I have been looking into multi-homing the NIC.
I tried setting

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSetServices\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\(MYNIC)
IPADDRESS Key =
0.0.0.0
192.168.1.50

SubNetMask Key =
0.0.0.0
255.255.255.0

I rebooted, but if there is no DHCP server it is not using the static IP.
I also did a ipconfig /all but do not see the fixed IP

 

[John Wunderlich]

I have a laptop that I use at several locations. Most of the
locations use a DHCP, but a few require fixed IPs.
I have the NIC set for DHCP with the alternate settings set to the
fixed IP info. This works fin except it takes the computer 60
seconds or so before the search for DHCP times out and it defaults
to the fixed settings.

Is there a way to reduce the DHCP search timeout so it will
default to the fixed settings faster?

If not, I have been looking into multi-homing the NIC.
I tried setting

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSetServices\Tcpip\Parameter
s\Interfaces\(MYNIC) IPADDRESS Key =
0.0.0.0
192.168.1.50

SubNetMask Key =
0.0.0.0
255.255.255.0

I rebooted, but if there is no DHCP server it is not using the
static IP. I also did a ipconfig /all but do not see the fixed IP

IMHO, the best solution for you is a networking switching program like:
"Free IP Switcher 1.0"
http://www.eusing.com/ipswitch/free_ip_switcher.htm

Alternatively, you can set up several .bat files with a bunch of
customized 'netsh' commands such as:

netsh interface ip set address name="Local Area Connection" source=dhcp

which you run depending on your location.

HTH,
John