IP address lease extension

A dynamically assigned IP address has a lease. When the lease expires, the IP address is reclaimed by the DHCP server. To continue using the IP address, the client must extend the lease duration.

When about half of the lease duration elapses, the DHCP client unicasts a DHCP-REQUEST to the DHCP server to extend the lease. Depending on the availability of the IP address, the DHCP server returns one of the following messages:

• A DHCP-ACK unicast confirming that the client's lease duration has been extended.

• A DHCP-NAK unicast denying the request.

If the client receives no reply, it broadcasts another DHCP-REQUEST message for lease extension when about seven-eighths of the lease duration elapses. Again, depending on the availability of the IP address, the DHCP server returns either a DHCP-ACK unicast or a DHCP-NAK unicast.