New DHCP Client-side Features in Windows 10, April 2018 Update

Enhanced DHCP Client-side Features

With the release of the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, Microsoft has introduced several new features for DHCP clients. These features provide improved functionality and security for devices connecting to DHCP servers.

Vendor Class Identifier

One of the most significant new features is the addition of the Vendor Class Identifier (VCI) option to DHCP client requests. The VCI is a string that identifies the type of device making the request. This information can be used by DHCP servers to provide customized responses tailored to the specific needs of the device.

For example, a Windows 10 device will send a VCI of "MSFT 5.0" in its DHCP requests. This information can be used by a DHCP server to provide the device with specific options, such as the IP address range that it should be assigned.

Improved Security

The Windows 10 April 2018 Update also includes several security enhancements for DHCP clients. These include:

• Support for DHCPv6, which provides improved security over DHCPv4.
• Improved handling of DHCPv4 relay messages, which helps to prevent spoofing attacks.
• Increased logging of DHCP-related events, which can be used for troubleshooting and security analysis.

Conclusion

The new DHCP client-side features in Windows 10 April 2018 Update provide a number of benefits for devices connecting to DHCP servers. These benefits include improved functionality, security, and diagnostic capabilities.