Problem: DSL customers are sometimes not able to obtain an IP address via DHCP from the OWT router. This often happens after the computer has been shut down for a time and during high-traffic periods on the DSL network. This problem has been traced to the Microsoft DHCP client timing out too soon. The DHCP standard, RFC2131, (which our router uses) specifies that a DHCP request should timeout in 6 seconds where Windows 95 DHCP client times out in only 2 seconds.

Solution: The following major upgrades for Windows 95 enhance Dial-up Networking (yes, even if you are connecting via DSL), TCP/IP (installs Winsock 2.0) and some other networking components.

NOTE: some of this software is beta release software from Microsoft and they offer their standard caveat that the products have not been fully regression tested. We have only tested this ourselves on standard installations (i.e.. no NetWare etc.). We have not heard any negative reports associated with these upgrades. This document relates to Windows 95 only - Windows 98 users should see our DHCP-98 document.

Instructions: (you may need your Windows 95 CD during the installation process)

1. Download all 3 of the following programs from our ftp server:

• msdun13.exe
• w95ws2setup.exe
• vdhcpupd.exe

2. Install msdun13.exe as instructed and restart. You may be asked to restart a second time. If you get an error message asking if you want to see DHCP error messages in the future - click "Yes".

3. Install ws95ws2setup.exe as instructed and restart.

4. Lastly, install vdhcpupd.exe and restart.

There is nothing to configure and your network should function as before but not have the DHCP timeout problems.