Patent ID: 8631100
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network device, comprising: a physical network interface that receives a first message from a client device of a network, wherein the first message requests that a layer three (L3) network address be reserved for use by the client device, and wherein the first message also includes a layer two (L2) hardware address associated with a physical network interface of the client device, and wherein the first message specifies an indication of whether the client device supports automatic reconfiguration of the L2 hardware address associated with the network interface of the client device; a control unit that determines, based on the indication, whether the client device supports automatic reconfiguration of the L2 hardware address associated with the network interface of the client device, wherein the control unit, responsive to determining the client device supports automatic reconfiguration of the L2 hardware address associated with the network interface of the client device: selects a replacement L2 hardware address to associate with the network interface of the client device as a replacement for the L2 hardware address included in the first message; generates a second message having a field that specifies the replacement L2 hardware address; and outputs, by the physical network interface of the network device, the second message to the client device in response to the first message so as to automatically associate the replacement L2 hardware address with the network interface of the client device.