The "Lease duration for DHCP clients" option is set to 0 and some DHCP scope options disappear on a Windows Server 2003-based DHCP server

Consider the following scenario. You have a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. You use this server to assign TCP/IP configurations to client computers. Then, you restart the DHCP Server service. In this scenario, you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• The Lease duration for DHCP clients option for the DHCP scope is set to 0.
• Some DHCP scope options disappear.
• The lease time is set to zero.
• The DHCP clients no longer receive the correct DHCP options.

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

• You have defined DHCP reservations in the scope.
• You have not specified the complete IP address in the IP address field of the DHCP reservations, or the reservation IP address matches the scope ID.

When this problem occurs, client computers do not have the correct TCP/IP configurations. Therefore, the client computers cannot communicate with other computers over the network.

This problem occurs because the DHCP Server service does not validate the IP address that is in the IP address field of the DHCP reservation. The DHCP Server service allows for a reservation to be created even if the IP address is invalid. If you continue to add the reservation without specifying all the values in the reservation, the IP address in the reservation is listed as the scope identifier.

When the DHCP Server service starts, the DHCP server cannot correctly assign the corresponding options into the scope options because the scope and the reservation have the same identifier. In this situation, some scope options are moved from the scope to the reservation. Additionally, the lease time of the scope is reset to zero.

After you apply this hotfix, the DHCP Server service validates the IP address in the IP address field of the DHCP reservations before the reservation is created. This validation makes sure that the last octet of the IP address meets the following conditions:

• The last octet is not empty.
• The last octet ranges from 0 to 255, excluding 0.

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

To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 installed on the computer. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You must restart the DHCP Server service 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 item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, x64-based versions

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

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: