Log files

You can find information about all DHCP-related issues in the /var/log/dhclient.log file. The file includes information about how a VMkernel interface acquires an IP address and how it performs the renewal. In the following screenshot, you can see DHCPREQUEST, DHCPDISCOVER on vmk0 messages to be broadcasted.

Initially, a DHCPDISCOVER broadcast message is sent by the VMkernel client interface. The DHCPDISCOVER message then tries to look around for a DHCP server, and if found, the VMkernel client interface requests for an IP address. You can see in the screenshot, the broadcast request is being sent on 255.255.255.255. If no DHCP server is available to offer a lease, you will see a No DHCPOFFERS received message once it times out. If a DHCP offer has been made by a DHCP server, the server will send a unicast message of DHCPOFFERS to the client.

The vSphere client tries to renew its DHCP state and unicasts a DHCPREQUEST to the DHCP server at a time interval of interval1 multiplied...