option space

[Glenn Satchell]

On 03/24/10 03:13, Marc Thielemann wrote:
>
>>> I defined an option space (dhcpd 4.1.1) that looks like this (sample):
>>>
>>> option space test;
>>> option test.option1 code 1 = unsigned integer 8;
>>> option test.option4 code 4 = unsigned integer 16;
>>> option test.option5 code 5 = unsigned integer 16;
>>> option test.option6 code 7 = string;
>>> option test.option8 code 8 = string;
>>> option test.option9 code 9 = string;
>>> option test.option128 code 128 = text;
>>> option test.option130 code 130 = text;
>>>
>>> When I now take a look at the dhcp packet the server sent out, the option 43 (vendor-encapsulated-options) includes all the values I assigned in that option space but not in the correct order. The order is: 1, 128, 130, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and not 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 128, 130 (as I expected). Is this a bug or is there a way to define the order of the values within an option space (like dhcp-parameter-request-list)? Thanks in advance for your help.
>>
>> Hmm!  That looks like it is going by alphabetical order of the option name.
>> The order should not matter, but if you are particular about it you could try adding a zero to the single digit option names and see if that works, e.g. test.option01.
>
> No, the option names were just samples and it makes no difference if you change them. The sorting seems actually to be done by the option code but unfortunately not in the right way. I think an option like "parameter-request-list" for the options within an option space would be helpful.
>
> Regards,
> Marc

Hmm, I'll bite on this one. The definitive source forthese type of 
answers is the RFCs, so quoting from RFC2132 (dhcp options):

8.4. Vendor Specific Information

    The Encapsulated vendor-specific options field SHOULD be encoded as a
    sequence of code/length/value fields of identical syntax to the DHCP
    options field

<snip>

9.8. Parameter Request List

    This option is used by a DHCP client to request values for specified
    configuration parameters.  The list of requested parameters is
    specified as n octets, where each octet is a valid DHCP option code
    as defined in this document.

    The client MAY list the options in order of preference.  The DHCP
    server is not required to return the options in the requested order,
    but MUST try to insert the requested options in the order requested
    by the client.

dhcp-parameter-request-list only specifies which options should be 
included, it does not necessarily imply the order in which they are 
included.

Basically the client needs to be able to accept the vendor encapsulated 
options in a random order and decode them appropriately.

-- 
regards,
-glenn
--
Glenn Satchell                            |  Miss 9: What do you
Uniq Advances Pty Ltd, Sydney Australia   |  do at work Dad?
mailto:glenn.satchell at uniq.com.au         |  Miss 6: He just
http://www.uniq.com.au tel:0409-458-580   |  types random stuff.