Your RIS client may not be able to obtain an IP address during the PXE restart on Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000

If you install Remote Installation Services (RIS) and the DHCP Server service on the same server and if the RIS client is across a router, the RIS client may not be able to obtain an IP address during the Pre-Boot Execution Environment (PXE) restart. The RIS client may receive a DHCP OFFER of all zeros. The RIS client may work correctly if you move RIS and DHCP Server to separate computers or if you remove the router.

This problem can occur if you have configured a router to source the DHCP DISCOVER packet with the IP address of the DHCP-and-RIS side of the router instead of with the IP address of the client side of the router. Because the DISCOVER packet is sourced with an address that is on the same subnet as the DHCP-and-RIS server, the DHCP-and-RIS server assumes that the client is prompting for an RIS PXE DISCOVER instead of for a DHCP IP address DISCOVER. The OFFER that the client receives does not contain a valid IP address offer because it is an OFFER for RIS. Because the client does not have an IP address at this point, the OFFER packet is discarded.

Windows Server 2003

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit editions

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit editions

Microsoft Windows 2000

There is currently no resolution for Windows 2000.

To work around this problem, move RIS and DHCP Server to separate computers. Alternatively, you can reconfigure the router to source the packet with the same address that is in the giaddr field. This is the RIS client side of the router.

This problem does not occur if you are using a server that is running a computer that is running Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows NT as the router, nor does it occur with many other commercially available routers. To see detailed information of the DHCP traffic, run a network monitor trace.

RIS and DHCP Server know about each other when you install them on the same computer. The router issue that is described in this article only occurs when the services are on the same computer. Moving the services to separate computers causes DHCP Server to act more independently of RIS and to send an IP address OFFER even when it receives a DISCOVER that is sourced with the same subnet address, instead of handing it off to RIS. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.