Hi, I am runnig SuSE Linux Pro with an installed and running DHCP and DNS server.

My problem, Windows XP cannot retrieve an IP address from my Linux DHCP Server. It always says that it can't find the server. I have it set to autoconfigure with DHCP and DNS enabled.

when i start linux on the same computer running on the same distro, it retrieves the IP from the server with no problem. I can use a regular hub and get the IP address from the server.

The only way Windows XP can connect to my server is if i wire it to a router with the DHCP server acting as the ISP for the router. I want to have connect to the server through a hub and not a router.


Is it possible to have windows XP receive an IP address from a linux DHCP server without having to go through the router?

If I understood well, here you go:

"My problem, Windows XP cannot retrieve an IP address from my Linux DHCP Server. It always says that it can't find the server. I have it set to autoconfigure with DHCP and DNS enabled."

I would set the network to use static IP's if it's only two computers, the suse and the xp. It's one less daemon running, no dns server, no hassle. In suse use yast2 to set the eth1 as a static ip 192.168.0.1 and in xp go to the control panel and set the tcp/ip properties to use static 192.168.0.2. Set default gateway to 192.168.0.1, the suse box.

"when i start linux on the same computer running on the same distro, it retrieves the IP from the server with no problem. I can use a regular hub and get the IP address from the server."

But when suse gets IP it is using the dhcp client. When xp asks for an IP to suse, it's the dhcp server, running. Two different daemons.

"The only way Windows XP can connect to my server is if i wire it to a router with the DHCP server acting as the ISP for the router. I want to have connect to the server through a hub and not a router."

If the computer is a linux box, you can have routing feature enabled. You don't need a standalone router. I don't feel I got it well....

"Is it possible to have windows XP receive an IP address from a linux DHCP server without having to go through the router?"

Yes, just enable routing through the linux box. with suse Yast2 can make it easily.

Tell me, how many computers is there on your network? I'm assuming two.

Alright i figured out a temporary solution, with my dhcp and external router working together.

I took the DHCP plug out of the ISP port on the router, and placed it on a reqular port on the same router. I then configured the router to act as a DHCP server (now i have two DHCP servers) providing IP addresses to all connected computers on the router. Some how my Linux DHCP server becomes the main server and provides IP addresses to requesting hosts.


So now when i do IPCONFIG on Windows it shows the IP address of the DHCP, DNS servers, and the DNS suffix that is coming from my linux box.

Its kind of good this way because if something happens to Linux(shuts down, etc.) my router will automatically takeover and provide IP addresses to requesting hosts. (now im thinking of having an internet connection split between the router and the linux box so the computers on my network can connect to the internet even if something happens. )


Thanks "bruno boys" for the info. By the way im running 4 computers.
1 Win98/Linux,
2 WinXP/Linux,
1 Linux acting as server.

Why setup a DHCP server when your router includes one?

MS3FGX, i had originally planed to setup a DHCP server before i got my router. The only reason i got the router was beacuse it provided wireless access to my network. Right now im testing to see what happens when i turn the DHCP service on the router off.