A server node comprising: one or more processors executing a host operating system, the host operating system hosting a plurality of virtual machines and comprising a node agent and a virtual machine switch; and a memory, wherein the server node is operable to: transmit a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from any first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines; receive the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the first virtual machine at the virtual machine switch; transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the virtual machine switch to the node agent; receive the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet at the node agent; generate, by the node agent, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet based on the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet and on Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol information stored in the memory; and transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the first virtual machine, wherein transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the first virtual machine comprises: transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the virtual machine switch; and transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the virtual machine switch to the first virtual machine; the server node further operable to: in response to receipt of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet at the virtual machine switch, identify a handler of the node agent which is registered with the virtual machine switch and associated with the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet, and call the handler to transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the virtual machine switch to the node agent. one or more processors executing a host operating system, the host operating system hosting a plurality of virtual machines and comprising a node agent and a virtual machine switch; and a memory, wherein the server node is operable to: transmit a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from any first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines; receive the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the first virtual machine at the virtual machine switch; transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the virtual machine switch to the node agent; receive the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet at the node agent; generate, by the node agent, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet based on the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet and on Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol information stored in the memory; and transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the first virtual machine, wherein transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the first virtual machine comprises: transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the virtual machine switch; and transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the virtual machine switch to the first virtual machine; the server node further operable to: in response to receipt of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet at the virtual machine switch, identify a handler of the node agent which is registered with the virtual machine switch and associated with the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet, and call the handler to transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the virtual machine switch to the node agent. transmit a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from any first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines; receive the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the first virtual machine at the virtual machine switch; transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the virtual machine switch to the node agent; receive the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet at the node agent; generate, by the node agent, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet based on the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet and on Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol information stored in the memory; and transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the first virtual machine, wherein transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the first virtual machine comprises: transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the virtual machine switch; and transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the virtual machine switch to the first virtual machine; transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the node agent to the virtual machine switch; and transmission of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol response packet from the virtual machine switch to the first virtual machine; the server node further operable to: in response to receipt of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet at the virtual machine switch, identify a handler of the node agent which is registered with the virtual machine switch and associated with the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet, and call the handler to transmit the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol packet from the virtual machine switch to the node agent.