A roaming host is a host with a dyna mically assigned IP address and a specific set of properties and DHCP options. When you create a roaming host for a network device, the device can receive any dynamically assigned address from the network to which it belongs. You can create roaming hosts for devices, such as laptop computers and mobile phones, that require different IP addresses each time they are moved from one network to another and require a unique set of DHCP options.
You can configure IPv4 addresses, IPv6 addresses, or IPv4 and IPv6 addresses for roaming hosts that require both types of addresses. When you configure IPv4 addresses for a roaming host, you must specify the host MAC address or a DHCP client identifier that the appliance uses to match the host, and specify DHCP options for the host. The appliance assigns an IP address from the DHCP range associated with the network from which the address request originates. You can configure an IPv6 prefix or address for a DHCP client. When you do, you must specify the DUID of the host so the appliance can use the DUID to match the host.
A roaming host also receives DHCP options from the Grid, member, network, or shared network with which it associates.
When you configure a roaming host, you must configure it in a specific network view. If you have multiple network views, you must specify the network view to which the requesting hosts belong so the appliance can assign addresses to the hosts from the networks within the same network view.
After you enable support for roaming hosts at the Grid level, you can add a roaming host that supports IPv4, IPv6, or both protocols. You can also convert an IPv4 roaming host to an IPv6 roaming host and vice versa, or convert an IPv4 or IPv6 roaming host to one that supports both IPv4 and IPv6.

Configuring Roaming Hosts

To configure a roaming host, perform the following tasks:

1. Enable support for roaming hosts at the Grid level. For information, see, Enabling Support for Roaming Hosts.
2. Add a roaming host.
   • To add an IPv4 roaming host, see Adding IPv4 Roaming Hosts
   • To add an IPv6 roaming host, see Adding IPv6 Roaming Hosts
   • To add a dual stack roaming host, see Adding IPv4/IPv6 Roaming Hosts
   • Optionally, configure DHCP properties for the roaming host. You can override properties set for the upper levels and enter unique values for the roaming hosts. For information, see Defining IPv4 DHCP Options.

You can do the following after you configure roaming hosts:

• View the configured roaming hosts.For information, see Viewing Roaming Hosts
• Modify existing roaming hosts. For information, see Setting Properties for Roaming Hosts.
• Delete roaming hosts that are not currently in use. For information, see Deleting Roaming Hosts.

Enabling Support for Roaming Hosts

You must first enable support for roaming hosts before adding them. After you enable this feature, you can disable it only after you delete all the existing roaming hosts.
To enable support for roaming hosts:

1. From the Data Management tab, select the DHCP tab.
2. Expand the Toolbar and click Grid DHCP Properties.
3. In the General Advanced tab, select Enable support for roaming host.
4. Save the configuration and click Restart if it appears at the top of the screen.

Adding IPv4 Roaming Hosts

To add an IPv4 roaming host:

1. From the Data Management tab, select the DHCP tab.
2. Select a network view from the drop-down list.
3. Expand the Toolbar and click Add -> Roaming Host -> IPv4.
4. In the Add Roaming Host wizard, select one of the following and click Next:
   • Add Roaming Host
     or
   • Add Roaming Host using Template
     Click Select Template to create a roaming host using a fixed address/reservation template. In the DHCP Template Selector dialog box, select the template that you want to use. Note that when you use a template to create a roaming host, the configurations of the template apply to the new host. The appliance automatically populates the host properties in the wizard. You can then edit the pre-populated properties.

     5. Complete the following:

1. • Name: Enter the name of the roaming host. The name must be unique for each roaming host in a given network view.
   • Assign IPv4 Address by: Select one of the following criteria on which the appliance matches when assigning an IP address to the host.
     • MAC Address: Select this to assign a dynamic IP address to a host, provided that the MAC address of the requesting host matches the MAC address that you specify here.
     • DHCP Client Identifier: Select this to assign a dynamic IP address to a host with the same DHCP client identifier that you specify here. When you select this, the Match null (\0) at beginning of DHCP client identifier checkbox is displayed. Select this when a DHCP client sends a \000 prefixed to the DHCP client identifier. \0 is the null character. Some DHCP clients (for example, Microsoft) send the client identifier in a \000foo format (with the null character prefix instead of just foo). The client identifier for the requesting host and the client identifier stored in the appliance must match.
   • Comment: Enter useful information about the roaming host.
   • Disabled: Select this if you do not want the DHCP server to use this roaming host definition. When you disable a roaming host, the host gets an IP address without the defined DHCP options.

6. Click Next to configure the IDHCP options for the roaming host, as described in Defining IPv4 DHCP Options.

7. Click Next to enter values for required extensible attributes or add optional extensible attributes. For information, see Using Extensible Attributes.

8. Save the configuration and click Restart if it appears at the top of the screen.
or
Click the Schedule icon at the top of the wizard to schedule this task. In the ScheduleChange panel, enter a date, time, and time zone. For information, see Scheduling Tasks.

Adding IPv6 Roaming Hosts

To add an IPv6 roaming host:

1. From the Data Management tab, select the DHCP tab.
2. Select a network view from the drop-down list.
3. Expand the Toolbar and click Add -> Roaming Host -> IPv6.
4. In the Add Roaming Host wizard, select one of the following and click Next:
   • Add IPv6 Roaming Host
     or
   • Add Roaming Host Using IPv6 Template

Click Select IPv6 Template to create a roaming host using an IPv6 fixed address template. In the DHCP Template Selector dialog box, select the template that you want to use. Note that when you use a template to create a roaming host, the configurations of the template apply to the new host. The appliance automatically populates the host properties in the wizard. You can then edit the pre-populated properties.

     5. Complete the following:

1. • Name: Enter the name of the roaming host. The name must be unique for each roaming host in a given network view.
   • DUID: Enter the DHCP unique identifier of the host.
   • Comment: Optionally, enter additional information about the roaming host.
   • Disabled: Select this if you do not want the DHCP server to use this roaming host definition. When you disable a roaming host, the host gets an IP address without the defined DHCP options.

6. Click Next to configure the DHCP options for the roaming host, as described in Defining General IPv6 Properties.

7. Click Next to enter values for required extensible attributes or add optional extensible attributes. For information, see Using Extensible Attributes.

8. Save the configuration and click Restart if it appears at the top of the screen.

or

Click the Schedule icon at the top of the wizard to schedule this task. In the Schedule Change panel, enter a date, time, and time zone. For information, see Scheduling Tasks.

Adding IPv4/IPv6 Roaming Hosts

To add an IPv4/IPv6 roaming host:

1. From the Data Management tab, select the DHCP tab.
2. Select a network view from the drop-down list.
3. Expand the Toolbar and click Add -> Roaming Host -> Both.
4. In the Add Roaming Host wizard, select one of the following and click Next:
   • Add Roaming Host
     or
   • Add Roaming Host using Both IPv4 and IPv6 Templates
     When you use both templates to create a roaming host, the appliance applies the IPv4 template and then the IPv6 template. Therefore, the comments and extensible attributes from the IPv6 template override those from the IPv4 template.

     5. Complete the following:

1. • Name: Enter the name of the roaming host. The name must be unique for each roaming host in a given network view.
   • Assign IP Address by: Select one of the following criteria on which the appliance matches when assigning an IP address to the host.
     • MAC Address: Select this to assign a dynamic IP address to a host, provided that the MAC address of the requesting host matches the MAC address that you specify here.
     • DHCP Client Identifier: Select this to assign a dynamic IP address to a host with the same DHCP client identifier that you specify here. When you select this, the Match null (\0) at beginning of DHCP client identifier checkbox is displayed. Select this when a DHCP client sends a \000 prefixed to the DHCP client identifier. \0 is the null character. Some DHCP clients (for example, Microsoft) send the client identifier in a \000foo format (with the null character prefix instead of just foo). The client identifier for the requesting host and the client identifier stored in the appliance must match.
   • DUID: Specify the DHCP unique identifier of the host.
   • Comment: If both IPv4 and IPv6 templates were used to create the host, this field displays the comment from the IPv6 template. You can change or add information.
   • Disabled: Select this if you do not want the DHCP server to use this roaming host definition. When you disable a roaming host, the host gets an IP address without the defined DHCP options.

6. Click Next to configure the IPv4 DHCP options for the roaming host, as described in Defining IPv4 DHCP Options

7. Click Next to configure IPv6 properties described in Defining General IPv6 Properties.

8. Click Next to enter values for required extensible attributes or add optional extensible attributes. If both IPv4 and IPv6 templates were used to create the host, this panel displays the attributes from the IPv6 template. You can change or add information. For information, see Using Extensible Attributes.

9. Save the configuration and click Restart if it appears at the top of the screen.

or
Click the Schedule icon at the top of the wizard to schedule this task. In the ScheduleChange panel, enter a date, time, and time zone. For information, see Scheduling Tasks.

Viewing Roaming Hosts

To view a list of roaming hosts in a specific network view:

1. From the Data Management tab, select the DHCP tab -> Networks tab -> Roaming Hosts.
2. From the Network View drop-down list, select the network view to which the roaming hosts belong.
3. The Grid Manager displays the following for each roaming host:
   • Name: The name of the roaming host.
   • Address: The IP address of the roaming host.
   • Comment: The information that you entered for the roaming host.
   • Site: The site to which the template belongs. This is one of the predefined extensible attributes.

You can select Disabled and available extensible attributes for display.

You can also do the following:

• Sort the displayed data in ascending or descending order by column.
• Use filters and the Goto function to narrow down the list. With the autocomplete feature, you can just enter the first few characters of an object name in the Goto field and select the object from the possible matches.
• Create a quick filter to save frequently used filter criteria. For information, see Using Quick Filters.
• Modify some of the data in the table. Double click a row of data, and either edit the data in the field or select an item from a drop-down list. Note that some fields are read-only. For more information about this feature, see Modifying Data in Tables.

Setting Properties for Roaming Hosts

You can modify an existing roaming host to add, modify or delete IPv4 or IPv6 addresses, and to set IPv4 and IPv6 DHCP properties.

1. From the DataManagement tab, select the DHCP tab -> Networks tab -> RoamingHosts section -> roaming_host checkbox, and then click the Edit icon.
2. The RoamingHost editor contains the following tabs from which you can modify data:

• • General: Edit the fields as described in Adding IPv4 Roaming Hosts, except for the Templates field.
  • IPv4 DHCP Options: Keep the inherited DHCP options or override them and enter unique settings for the roaming host. For information, see Defining IPv4 DHCP Options.
  • IPv6 DHCP Options: Keep the inherited IPv6 DHCP properties or override them. For more information, see Defining General IPv6 Properties.
  • Extensible Attributes: Add and delete extensible attributes that are associated with a roaming host. You can also modify the values of extensible attributes. For information, see Using Extensible Attributes.
  • Permissions: This tab appears only if you belong to a superuser admin group. For information, see Managing Permissions.

     3. Optionally, you can click Toggle Advanced Mode to display the following tabs from which you can modify advanced data.

1. • IPv4DDNS: Click Override and select Enable DDNS updates for the DDNS settings you configure in this tab to take effect. You can specify the following:
     • DDNS Domain Name: Specify the domain name that the appliance uses to update DNS.
     • DDNS Hostname: Select the Replace the host name dynamically provided by the client/member with the roaming host name checkbox to use the name of the roaming host record as the name of the client for DDNS updates.

For information about DDNS, see Configuring DDNS Updates.

• • IPv4 BOOTP/PXE: Keep the inherited PXE and BOOTP properties or override them and enter unique settings for the roaming host. For information, see Configuring DHCP for IPv4.
  • IPv6 DDNS: Click Override and select Enable DDNS Updates for the DDNS settings you configure in this tab to take effect. You can specify the following:
    • DDNS Domain Name: Specify the domain name that the appliance uses to update DNS.
    • DDNS Hostname: Select the Replace the host name dynamically provided by the client/member with the roaming host name checkbox to use the name of the roaming host record as the name of the client for DDNS updates.

For information about DDNS, see Configuring DDNS Updates.

Note that Grid Manager displays both the basic and advanced tabs the next time you log in to the GUI.

     4. Save the configuration and click Restart if it appears at the top of the screen.

You can also click the Schedule icon at the top of the wizard to schedule this task. In the Schedule Change panel, enter a date, time, and time zone. For information, see Scheduling Tasks.

Deleting Roaming Hosts

To delete a roaming host:

1. From the Data Management tab, select the DHCP tab -> Networks tab -> Roaming Hosts -> roaming_host checkbox, and then select Delete or Schedule Delete from the drop-down menu.
2. To delete the roaming host now, in the Delete Confirmation dialog box, click Yes. To schedule the deletion, see Scheduling Deletions. The Grid Manager puts the deleted roaming host in the Recycle Bin, if enabled.