Solved: dhcp scope

v-rosas · ‎02-07-2008

which will be the impact of a vlan adds with capacity of 1024 host on a

switch where the process in an average of 20 % on a switch WS-C4507R?, the

traffic of broadcast affect the process of the switch?.

Istvan_Rabai · ‎02-08-2008

Hi Veronica,

I would suggest making some practical measurements on the real hardware if you have the possiblity.

1. Configure the switch as a DHCP relay agent.

2. Start some workstations issuing DHCP requests.

3. If you have a Cisco device as a DHCP server, then use the "debug ip dhcp server packets" to see the DHCP server receiving and sendig the DHCP packets.

4. On the DHCP relay agent (the switch) use the "show processes cpu sorted 5sec" command to display the burden on the processor in a 5 seconds interval.

5. From the increase of cpu load compared to the DHCP inactivity period, you will be able to make extrapolation on what can be the load increase with 1024 hosts.

Of course, take into account that not all workstations will be booting at the same time when people come to work in the morning, but there can be a time interval where DHCP requests will be spread across.

Cheers:

Istvan

View solution in original post

Istvan_Rabai · ‎02-07-2008

Hi Veronica,

DHCP Discover and Request messages are broadcast messages.

If the DHCP server is located on a different subnet, then you will use the "ip helper-address" command to direct these messages to the DHCP server as unicast messages.

These messages are process switched, not CEF switched, thereby putting some additional burden on the process.

Does this answer your question?

Cheers:

Istvan

v-rosas · ‎02-08-2008

Hi Cheers, yes this answer my question. The impact with this vlan (1024 host) can it be low?

Istvan_Rabai · ‎02-08-2008

Hi Veronica,

I would suggest making some practical measurements on the real hardware if you have the possiblity.

1. Configure the switch as a DHCP relay agent.

2. Start some workstations issuing DHCP requests.

3. If you have a Cisco device as a DHCP server, then use the "debug ip dhcp server packets" to see the DHCP server receiving and sendig the DHCP packets.

4. On the DHCP relay agent (the switch) use the "show processes cpu sorted 5sec" command to display the burden on the processor in a 5 seconds interval.

5. From the increase of cpu load compared to the DHCP inactivity period, you will be able to make extrapolation on what can be the load increase with 1024 hosts.

Of course, take into account that not all workstations will be booting at the same time when people come to work in the morning, but there can be a time interval where DHCP requests will be spread across.

Cheers:

Istvan