ideal dhcp load on PIX 501?

danparsons · ‎01-22-2008

As well as running the usual firewall functions, how many DHCP clients can a 501 take before any slowdown occurs?

Cheers.

JORGE RODRIGUEZ · ‎01-22-2008

Daniel, I am not aware of PIX shutdown caused by the number of assign IPs to clients unless there is a bug related to this issue, is this what you are currently experiencing in your PIX, or is this just a general question.

Rgds

Jorge

Jorge Rodriguez

danparsons · ‎01-22-2008

Jorge,

It was just a general question, as I have heard some people recommend not using dhcp on a pix as it may lose efficiencey as a security device due to additional load.

JORGE RODRIGUEZ · ‎01-22-2008

My opinion, if you think of it the process of DHCP is an ARP request from client and that's it once client receives IP from PIX and PIX provides IP that would be the only traffic, the only load I see for example is if 200 clients at the same time turn on their machines at the same time sending ARP request to PIX, and even then PIX should be able to handle it.

Personally I would not recomend DHCP on PIXs unless you have a very small network say 20 users and that there were no DHCP server, I would then use Windows AD for DHCP as it comes free from Windows server and easy to manage.

Rgds

Jorge

Rgds

Jorge

Jorge Rodriguez

ajagadee · ‎01-22-2008

The number of DHCP Clients on the PIX really depends upon the Software License. For example, a 10 User License can only support 32 DHCP Leases. Please refer the "Software License" section of the below URL which will assist you in deciding is Pix 501 the right solution in your environment and also the cost associated with Software Licensing.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/vpndevc/ps5708/ps5709/ps2030/ps2031/product_data_sheet09186a0080091b18.html

Note that the Unlimited User License can only support a max of 256 clients.

I hope it helps.

Regards,

Arul