DHCPv4 snooping

The default mode of operation for DHCP snooping is that the DHCP snooping agent instantiates a DHCP lease state based on information in the DHCP packet, the client IP address and the client hardware address.

The mode of operation can be changed for DHCP snooping so the Layer 2 header MAC address is used instead of the client hardware address from the DHCP packet for the DHCP lease state instantiation. This mode is selected by enabling the l2-header in the lease-populate command at the DHCP level. Because SR OS routers do not have the ability to verify the DHCP information (both the src-ip and src-mac of the packet are those of the previous relay point) anti-spoofing must be performed at the access node before the SR OS routers. This mode provides compatibility with MAC concentrator devices, and cable modem termination system (CMTS) and WiiMAX Access Controller (WAC).

A configuration example of a cable/wireless network together with subscriber management is shown in Figure: CMTS/WAC network configuration example. The subnet used to connect to the CMTS/WAC must be defined as a subnet in the subscriber interface of the Layer 3 CO model under which the hosts is defined. This means that all subscriber lease states instantiated on BSR must be from a ‟local” subscriber-subnet, even if those are behind the router, as there is no additional Layer 3 route installed pointing to them.

The important items to notice are static hosts at the subscriber interface side:

When dual-homing is used the CMTS/WAC may be configured with the same MAC for both upstream interfaces. If that is not possible the BSR can be configured with an optional MAC address. The BSR then uses the configured MAC address when instantiating the DHCP lease states.

Figure: CMTS/WAC network configuration example