Creating and setting option 060 on a DHCP server

Products

• Deployment Solution
• Ghost Solution Suite

Issue/Introduction

How do I manually set option 060 on my DHCP server?

Resolution

When a client computer is PXE booting, it listens to DHCP responses to find who the PXE server is that will be servicing that client. If a DHCP response contains option 060 with the value of "PXEClient," the client computer will make further PXE requests to that specific computer. This option will need to be manually set on the DHCP server if:

1. The PXE server and DHCP server are on the same computer and, for some reason, the option was not automatically set during the PXE server installation.

2. If you need to set option 060 to a specific DHCP scope.

To set option 60, on the DHCP server, go to Start > Run and type in "cmd" (or get to a command prompt console through any method).

1. At the command prompt enter the line:
   
   netsh
   
    
2. This will change the command prompt to netsh, and this new prompt enter the line: 
   
   dhcp server
   
    
3. This will change the prompt again to dhcp server. At the prompt enter the following:
   
   add optiondef 60 PXEClient String 0 comment=PXE support
   
    
4. This will return and say that the command completed successfully. When this has happens, type in the following line to commit the change: 
   
   exit

The above five steps will create option 060, but it will still need to be turned on at the DHCP server.

To turn this on at the server, go to Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > DHCP. Now expand your server scope by clicking on the plus sign (+) next to your server name, then right-clicking on Server Options below that server, then selecting Configure Options.

Scroll through the list of DHCP options until you see option 060, and then check the option to turn it on. Click OK, and then close out of the DHCP settings.

Additional Information

Better option is to use IP Helpers: KB 152214