Patent ID: 8437360

Claim:
A network aggregator comprising: a processor; and a memory; wherein the processor and memory are configured to provide a Media Access Control (MAC) address insertion module for: obtaining a MAC address for a cable modem or customer premise equipment; receiving a DHCP message from the cable modem or customer premise equipment; inserting the MAC address into a specific option of the DHCP message received from the cable modem or customer premise equipment and sending the modified DHCP message to a DHCP server; receiving from the DHCP server a DHCP response message that includes an IP address for the cable modem or customer premise equipment and the specific option, including the MAC address, and wherein the specific option is returned unprocessed from the DHCP server to the network aggregator in response to the modified DHCP message, and relaying the DHCP response message to the cable modem or customer premise equipment by using the MAC address to determine a physical interface for the cable modem or the customer premise equipment; wherein the MAC address insertion module is further configured for using the MAC address for error analysis, debugging, and DHCP lease query.