DHCP Tunnels Support
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DHCP Tunnels Support

Last Updated: September 30, 2012

The DHCP--Tunnels Support feature provides the capability to configure the node (or spoke) of the generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel interfaces dynamically using DHCP.

In a Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN) network each participating spoke must have a unique IP address belonging to the same IP subnet. It is difficult for a network administrator to configure the spoke addresses manually on a large DMVPN network. Hence, DHCP is used to configure the spoke address dynamically on a DMVPN network.

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, see the feature information table at the end of this module.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Restrictions for DHCP Tunnels Support

  • A DHCP server cannot be deployed on a DMVPN hub. A DMVPN hub must act as a relay agent and the DHCP server must be deployed adjacent to the DMVPN hub.
  • The DHCP functionality of address validation is not supported on DMVPN.

Information About DHCP Tunnels Support

DHCP Overview

DHCP is based on the Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP), which provides the framework for passing configuration information to hosts on a TCP/IP network. DHCP adds the capability to automatically allocate reusable network addresses and configuration options to Internet hosts. DHCP consists of two components: a protocol for delivering host-specific configuration parameters from a DHCP server to a host and a mechanism for allocating network addresses to hosts. DHCP is built on a client/server model, where designated DHCP server hosts allocate network addresses and deliver configuration parameters to dynamically configured hosts. See the "DHCP" section of the Cisco IOS IP Addressing Configuration Guide for more information.

DHCP Behavior on a Tunnel Network

DMVPN spoke nodes establish a tunnel with a preconfigured DMVPN next hop server (NHS) (hub node) and exchange IP packets with the NHS before an IP address is configured on the tunnel interface. This allows the DHCP client on the spoke and the DHCP relay agent or the DHCP server on the NHS to send and receive the DHCP messages. A DHCP relay agent is any host that forwards DHCP packets between clients and servers.

When the tunnel on a spoke is in the UP state or becomes active, the spoke establishes a tunnel with the preconfigured hub node. The tunnel formation may include setting up IP Security (IPsec) encryption for the tunnel between the spoke and the hub. DHCP receives the GRE tunnel interface UP notification only after the spoke establishes a tunnel with the hub. The DHCP client configured on the spoke must exchange the DHCP IP packets with the hub (DHCP relay agent or server) to obtain an IP address for the GRE tunnel interface. Therefore, the spoke-to-hub tunnel must be in active state before the GRE tunnel interface UP notification is sent to the DHCP server or the relay agent.

IP packets that are broadcast on the DMVPN spoke reache the DMVPN hub. The spoke broadcasts a DHCPDISCOVER message to the DHCP relay agent on the DMVPN hub, prior to the spoke having an IP address on the GRE tunnel interface. By using the DHCPDISCOVER message, DHCP unicasts the offer back to the client. The hub cannot send IP packets to the spoke before the hub receives a Next Hop Resolution Protocol (NHRP) registration from the spoke. The DHCP relay agent configured on the DMVPN hub adds mapping information to the DHCP client packets (DHCPDISCOVER and DHCPREQUEST). The mapping information is added to the DHCP client so that it is available for the DMVPN hub to relay the DHCP server response.


Note
The NHRP registration sent by the spoke is suppressed until DHCP obtains an address for the GRE tunnel interface. Hence allows reliable exchange of standard DHCP messages.

DMVPN Hub as a DHCP Relay Agent

Relay agents are not required for DHCP to work. Relay agents are used only when the DHCP client and server are in different subnets. The relay agent acts as a communication channel between the DHCP client and server. The DHCP--Tunnels Support feature requires the DMVPN hub to act as a relay agent to relay the DHCP messages to the DHCP server.

The DHCP server is located outside the DMVPN network and is accessible from the DMVPN hub nodes through a physical path. The spoke nodes reach the DHCP servers through the hub-to-spoke tunnel (GRE tunnel). The DHCP server is not directly reachable from the DMVPN spoke. The DHCP relay agent on the DMVPN hub helps the DHCP protocol message exchange between the DHCP client on the spoke and the DHCP server.

DMVPN Topologies

Dual-Hub Single-DMVPN Topology

In a dual-hub single-DMVPN topology, both the hubs must be connected to the same DHCP server that has the high availability (HA) support to maintain DMVPN redundancy. If the hubs are connected to different DHCP servers, they must be configured with mutually exclusive IP address pools for address allocation.

Dual-Hub Dual-DMVPN Topology

In the dual-hub dual-DMVPN topology, each hub is connected to a separate DHCP server. The DMVPN hubs (DHCP relay agents) include a client-facing tunnel IP address in the relayed DHCP requests. DHCP requests are used by the DHCP server to allocate an IP address from the correct pool.

Hierarchical DMVPN Topology

In a DMVPN hierarchical topology, there are multiple levels of DMVPN hubs. However, all the tunnel interface IP addresses are allocated from the same IP subnet address. The DHCP client broadcast packets are broadcast to the directly connected hubs. Hence, the DMVPN hubs at all levels must either be DHCP servers or DHCP relay agents. If DHCP servers are used then the servers must synchronize their databases. The DMVPN hubs must be configured as DHCP relay agents to forward the DHCP client packets to the central DHCP servers. If the DHCP server is located at the central hub, all DHCP broadcasts are relayed through the relay agents until they reach the DHCP server.

How to Configure DHCP Tunnels Support

Configuring a DMVPN Spoke to Acquire an IP Address from the DHCP Server

Perform this task to configure a DMVPN spoke to acquire an IP address from the DHCP server.

SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    configure terminal

3.    interface tunnel number

4.    ip address dhcp [client-id interface-type number] [hostname hostname]

5.    exit


DETAILED STEPS
 Command or ActionPurpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
configure terminal


Example:

Router# configure terminal

 

Enters global configuration mode.

 
Step 3
interface tunnel number


Example:

Router(config)# interface tunnel 1

 

Configures a tunnel interface and enters interface configuration mode.

 
Step 4
ip address dhcp [client-id interface-type number] [hostname hostname]


Example:

Router(config-if)# ip address dhcp

 

Configures an IP address for an interface acquired through DHCP.

 
Step 5
exit


Example:

Router(config-if)# exit

 

Exits interface configuration mode and returns to global configuration mode.

 

Configuring the DHCP Relay Agent to Unicast DHCP Replies

Perform this task to configure the DHCP relay agent to unicast DHCP replies.

By default, the DHCP replies are broadcast from the DMVPN hub to the spoke. Therefore a bandwidth burst occurs. The DHCP--Tunnels Support feature does not function if the DHCP messages are broadcast. Hence, you must configure the DHCP relay agent to unicast the DHCP messages for the DHCP to be functional in a DMVPN environment.

SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    configure terminal

3.    ip dhcp support tunnel unicast

4.    exit


DETAILED STEPS
 Command or ActionPurpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
configure terminal


Example:

Router# configure terminal

 

Enters global configuration mode.

 
Step 3
ip dhcp support tunnel unicast


Example:

Router(config)# ip dhcp support tunnel unicast

 

Configures a spoke-to-hub tunnel to unicast DHCP replies over the DMVPN network.

 
Step 4
exit


Example:

Router(config)# exit

 

Exits global configuration mode.

 

Configuring a DMVPN Spoke to Clear the Broadcast Flag

Perform this task to configure a DMVPN spoke to clear the broadcast flag.

By default, DMVPN spokes set the broadcast flag in the DHCP DISCOVER and REQUEST messages. Therefore the DHCP relay agent is forced to broadcast the DHCP replies back to the spokes, even though the relay agent has sufficient information to unicast DHCP replies. Hence, you must clear the broadcast flag from the DMVPN spoke.

SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    configure terminal

3.    interface tunnel number

4.    ip dhcp client broadcast-flag clear

5.    exit


DETAILED STEPS
 Command or ActionPurpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
configure terminal


Example:

Router# configure terminal

 

Enters global configuration mode.

 
Step 3
interface tunnel number


Example:

Router(config)# interface tunnel 1

 

Configures a tunnel interface and enters interface configuration mode.

 
Step 4
ip dhcp client broadcast-flag clear


Example:

Router(config-if)# ip dhcp client broadcast-flag clear

 

Configures the DHCP client to clear the broadcast flag.

 
Step 5
exit


Example:

Router(config-if)# exit

 

Exits interface configuration mode and returns to global configuration mode.

 

Configuration Examples for DHCP Tunnels Support

Example Configuring a DMVPN Spoke to Acquire an IP Address from the DHCP Server

The following example shows how to configure a DMVPN spoke to acquire an IP address from the DHCP server:

Router# configure terminal
Router(config)# interface tunnel 1
Router(config-if)# ip address dhcp hostname host1
Router(config-if)# exit

Example Configuring a DHCP Relay Agent to Unicast DHCP Replies

The following example shows how to configure a DHCP relay agent to unicast DHCP replies:

Router# configure terminal
Router(config)# ip dhcp support tunnel unicast
Router(config)# exit

Example Configuring a DMVPN Spoke to Clear the Broadcast Flag

The following example shows how to configure a DMVPN spoke to clear the broadcast flag:

Router# configure terminal
Router(config)# interface tunnel 1
Router(config-if)# ip dhcp client broadcast-flag clear
Router(config-if)# exit

Additional References

Related Documents

Related Topic

Document Title

Cisco IOS commands

Cisco IOS Master Commands List, All Releases

Cisco IOS security commands

Cisco IOS Security Command Reference

Cisco IOS IP addressing configuration tasks

Cisco IOS IP Addressing Configuration Guide

Cisco IOS IP addressing services commands

Cisco IOS IP Addressing Services Command Reference

Standards

Standard

Title

--

No new or modified standards are supported by this feature, and support for existing standards has not been modified by this feature.

MIBs

MIB

MIBs Link

No new or modified MIBs are supported by this feature, and support for existing MIBs has not been modified by this feature.

To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms, Cisco software releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB Locator found at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs

RFCs

RFC

Title

RFC 2131

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

Technical Assistance

Description

Link

The Cisco Support and Documentation website provides online resources to download documentation, software, and tools. Use these resources to install and configure the software and to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues with Cisco products and technologies. Access to most tools on the Cisco Support and Documentation website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password.

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/support/index.html

Feature Information for DHCP Tunnels Support

The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Table 1Feature Information for DHCP-Tunnels Support

Feature Name

Releases

Feature Information

DHCP--Tunnels Support

15.1(3)T

The DHCP--Tunnels Support feature provides the capability to configure the node (or spoke) of the GRE tunnel interfaces dynamically using DHCP.

The following commands were introduced or modified: ip address dhcp, ip dhcp client broadcast-flag, ip dhcp support tunnel unicast.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

Any Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and phone numbers used in this document are not intended to be actual addresses and phone numbers. Any examples, command display output, network topology diagrams, and other figures included in the document are shown for illustrative purposes only. Any use of actual IP addresses or phone numbers in illustrative content is unintentional and coincidental.

© 2012 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.