DHCP Messages, DHCPDiscover, DHCPOffer, DHCPRequest, DHCPAcknowledgment, DHCPNak, DHCPDecline, DHCPRelease, DHCPInform

Following are the important messages exchanged between a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) client and a DHCP Server.

DHCPDiscover Message

DHCP client sends a DHCP Discover broadcast on the network for finding a DHCP server. If there is no respond from a DHCP server, the client assigns itself an Automatic Private IPv4 address (APIPA).

DHCPOffer Message

DHCP servers on a network that receive a DHCP Discover message respond with a DHCP Offer message, which offers the client an IPv4 address lease.

DHCPRequest Message

Clients accept the first offer received by broadcasting a DHCP Request message for the offered IPv4 address.

DHCPAcknowledgment Message

The server accepts the request by sending the client a DHCP Acknowledgment message.

DHCPNak Message

If the IPv4 address requested by the DHCP client cannot be used (another device may be using this IPv4 address), the DHCP server responds with a DHCPNak (Negative Acknowledgment) packet. After this, the client must begin the DHCP lease process again.

DHCPDecline Message

If the DHCP client determines the offered TCP/IP configuration parameters are invalid, it sends a DHCPDecline packet to the server. After this, the client must begin the DHCP lease process again.

DHCPRelease Message

A DHCP client sends a DHCPRelease packet to the server to release the IPv4 address and cancel any remaining lease.

DHCPInform Message

DHCPInform is a new DHCP message type, defined in RFC 2131. DHCPInform is used by DHCP clients to obtain DHCP options.