Identifying Devices On A Network

DHCP Vendor Class Identifiers: WEB MSFT 5 0 and android-dhcp-13

Identifying Devices on a Network

When a device connects to a network using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), it sends a DHCPDISCOVER message that includes a Vendor Class. This identifier helps the DHCP server identify the type of device and provide the appropriate configuration. Two commonly encountered Vendor Class identifiers are WEB MSFT 5 0 and android-dhcp-13.

WEB MSFT 5 0

WEB MSFT 5 0 is the Vendor Class identifier for Windows computers using dhcpcd-5.5.6. It indicates that the device is running a Windows operating system and is using the dhcpcd client to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server.

android-dhcp-13

Corresponds to an Android device. It indicates that the device is running the Android operating system and is using the dhcp client to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server.

Updated Client Vendor Name for Windows Devices

Additionally, for some Windows-based devices, the traditional Client Vendor Name has been updated. To identify these devices, execute the following command on a FortiGate unit:

execute show dhcp lease 

Conclusion

Understanding DHCP Vendor Class identifiers is essential for network administrators to effectively manage IP address assignments and provide appropriate network configurations to different types of devices. By utilizing this information, network administrators can ensure that all devices on the network have the necessary information to connect and function properly.