Abstract: The Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) is a text-based protocol that functions over the Internet Protocol layer. The main use for this protocol is to configure rebooting networking equipment. DHCP servers can assign dynamic IP addresses to DHCP clients from a pool of addresses, or can assign static addresses manually assigned by network administrators. Along with its assigned IP address, a DHCP client is subject to receive a plethora of other useful configuration information. DHCP information, called options in DHCP lore, are typically registered with the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), and can have virtually any format for their data field. The present invention describes a generic way of adding new options of a DHCP client by specifying the data type for the option. This allows easy customization of DHCP clients. Typical examples of this optional information are the local subnet mask and the local router's IP address.