DHCP Server Options Overview

For SonicWALL appliances running SonicOS Enhanced 4.0 and above, the SonicWALL DHCP server options feature provides support for DHCP options, also known as vendor extensions, as defined primarily in RFCs 2131 and 2132. DHCP options allow you to specify additional DHCP parameters in the form of pre-defined, vendor-specific information that is stored in the options field of a DHCP message. When the DHCP message is sent to clients on the network, it provides vendor-specific configuration and service information. The SonicOS Enhanced Administrator’s Guide provides a list of DHCP options by RFC-assigned option number.

SonicWALL GMS provides a way to define DHCP options using a drop down list based on RFC-defined option numbers, allowing administrators to easily create DHCP objects and object groups, and configure DHCP generic options for dynamic and static DHCP lease scopes. After defined, the DHCP option is included in the options field of the DHCP message, which is then passed to DHCP clients on the network, describing the network configuration and service(s) available.