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From: Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: I never thought of this scenario
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:42:42 -0000 (UTC)
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On Sun, 21 Apr 2024 11:10:49 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> Calling this action a 'relay agent' makes it all into something it is
> not - a separate addition to routers in general.  DHCP can be and is
> routed by routers.

Not without these separate “relay agents”, as even those who try to keep 
insisting that “DHCP is routable” have already admitted.

Routable protocols can make it through routers without the help of special 
protocol-specific agents. Routers forward layer-3 packets, and whatever is 
embedded within them is taken along for the ride, transparently.

But that requires a properly configured layer 3 in order to work. And that 
is what DHCP provides. Therefore, since DHCP’s function is to set up layer 
3 in the first place (without the requirement for individual node 
configuration), it cannot rely on the existence of a fully-functioning 
layer 3 to begin with. Therefore it cannot be routed. QED.