dhcp client issues

OK replying to myself, there’s been a change in the way DHCP options are sent.

The previous version sent DHCP options like this:

    Magic cookie: DHCP
    Option: (53) DHCP Message Type (Discover)
    Option: (55) Parameter Request List
    Option: (12) Host Name
    Option: (61) Client identifier
    Option: (255) End
    Padding: 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

In 7.3.0 it was changed to this:

    Magic cookie: DHCP
    Option: (12) Host Name
    Option: (53) DHCP Message Type (Discover)
    Option: (55) Parameter Request List
    Option: (61) Client identifier
    Option: (255) End
    Padding: 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

The host name is sent first. It seems Virgin Media require Option 53 to be first. I’ve no idea if this a mikrotik or a VM bug (although there’s basically zero chance of getting them to change it if it is, large ISPs don’t even have a bug report process..) as I couldn’t find anything that said option 53 must be first..

The workaround seems to be to change the DHCP options to clientid instead, which removes the hostname field, so you get:

    Magic cookie: DHCP
    Option: (53) DHCP Message Type (Discover)
    Option: (55) Parameter Request List
    Option: (61) Client identifier
    Option: (255) End
    Padding: 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000…

This works as before.