Vendor Class Identifier

Code

60

Length

Minimum is 1 octet. Length varies according to n (the number of octets used as an identifier).

Value

A value of n octets interpreted by DHCP servers that can support vendor classification of clients.

Description

Can be used by DHCP clients to identify their vendor type and configuration. When using this option, vendors can define their own specific identifier values, such as to convey a particular hardware or operating system configuration or other identifying information.

For Windows 2000, all computers that function either as DHCP servers or DHCP clients can use and support this option type. When vendor classes are used, the DHCP server responds to identifying clients using option code 43 (described earlier), the reserved option type for returning vendor-specific information to the client.

DHCP servers that do not automatically interpret this option are expected to ignore it when it is specified by clients. For earlier Windows-based clients and other clients that do not support this option type, the DHCP service classifies these clients as part of the default vendor class, the DHCP Standard options class, which is predefined for Microsoft-based DHCP servers.

Structure