can DHCP Server detect's clients windows?

Question

I have a DHCP server and several clients, some running Windows 10 and some Windows 7. I want the DHCP server to be able to identify the Windows version of the clients using the vendor class and assign the settings I've specified accordingly. Also, I don't want to configure anything on the clients; I want the DHCP server to be able to detect the Windows version by itself. Is there a way to do this?

Answer 1

I eagerly look forward to your experiences.

Answer 2

Dear Mr Javad,

good morning

For starters I am picking up against installing hypervisor because it will destroy network stability.

Yours sincerely,

Bjarne Petersen

Answer 3

Hello Javad,

You are looking to have your DHCP server detect the Windows version of clients (Windows 10 and Windows 7) and assign settings based on this information without configuring anything on the clients. Unfortunately, standard DHCP server capabilities do not natively include detailed OS detection such as distinguishing between Windows 10 and Windows 7 based on vendor class.

However, there are a few methods you could consider to achieve similar functionality:

1. Option 60 (Vendor Class Identifier):

• Some Windows clients send a vendor class identifier that can be used to differentiate the types of devices. However, this identifier does not provide the OS version details.
• Example: MSFT 5.0 for some Windows clients, but this is not specific enough for your needs.

2. DHCP User Class Option:

• If clients are manually configured to send a user class option, the DHCP server can use this information to assign settings. However, this requires manual configuration on the client side, which you want to avoid.

3. Custom Scripts and Network Management Tools:

• Utilize network management and monitoring tools that can detect the OS version of connected devices. These tools can integrate with your DHCP server to assign specific settings based on the detected OS.
• Example tools include SolarWinds, ManageEngine, or similar network management solutions.

4. DHCP Server Extensions or Custom Solutions:

• Depending on your DHCP server, you might be able to extend its functionality with custom scripts or plugins. These scripts can perform additional checks and classify clients based on their behavior or network traffic patterns, indirectly identifying the OS version.
• This approach requires advanced setup and might involve using SNMP queries, analyzing packet signatures, or integrating with Active Directory.

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5. Microsoft Network Policy Server (NPS):

• If you are using a Windows Server environment, you can configure Network Policy Server (NPS) to apply policies based on the OS version. This is more complex and typically involves integrating DHCP, NPS, and possibly other services.

In summary, while the DHCP server alone cannot directly detect and distinguish between Windows versions, combining DHCP with other network management tools or custom scripts can help achieve the desired result. These solutions may require additional setup and maintenance but can provide the level of detail you need.

If anyone in the community has implemented a similar solution or has additional recommendations, please share your insights.

Best regards,

Rosy

Answer 4

Thank you Rosy 🙏

Answer 5

Dear Rosy Yuan,

good afternoon.

Yes, thank you! Can't wait for my lab to work.

Yours sincerely,

Bjarne Petersen