What is the difference between option 5 and option 6 of DHCP?

(Last modified: 09Oct2002)

This document (10027131) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

goal

NW5 DHCP server contains both Option 5 "Name Server" and Option 6 "Domain Name Server" as option. Which should be used to give DNS addresses to workstations?

fact

Novell NetWare 5.0

Novell NetWare 4.11

Novell NetWare 4.2

Novell DNS DHCP Services

fix

Option 5, according to RFC 2132, is related to older IEN 116 Internet Name Servers (precursors to today's DNS servers), while Option 6 is specifically defined for Domain Name Server (DNS) address assignment through DHCP. Most workstations Win9x and above look to Option 6 to obtain a list of DNS server addresses. Option 5 may be used by older workstations and terminals, though it is not commonly used today.

Novell recommends that users utilize Option 6 to pass DNS address(es) to workstations unless older legacy systems require the use of Option 5.

document

Document Title:	What is the difference between option 5 and option 6 of DHCP?
Document ID:	10027131
Solution ID:	1.0.57235974.2552590
Creation Date:	23Feb2000
Modified Date:	09Oct2002
Novell Product Class:	NetWare

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