packet arrived on the correct port. Packets that do not pass this check are forwarded to the server for
validation. This checkpoint prevents an attacker from spoofing a client and declining or releasing the real
client’s address. Server-originated packets (DHCPOFFER, DHCPACK, and DHCPNACK) that arrive on a not
trusted port are also dropped. This checkpoint prevents an attacker from acting as an imposter as a
DHCP server to facilitate a man-in-the-middle attack.
Binding table entries are deleted when a lease expires, or the relay agent encounters a DHCPRELEASE,
DHCPNACK, or DHCPDECLINE.
DHCP snooping is supported on Layer 2 and Layer 3 traffic. DHCP snooping on Layer 3 interfaces
depends on the configured DHCP relay agent (ip helper-address). DHCP snooping on Layer 2
interfaces does not require a relay agent.
Binding table entries are deleted when a lease expires or when the relay agent encounters a
DHCPRELEASE. Line cards maintain a list of snooped VLANs. When the binding table is exhausted, DHCP
packets are dropped on snooped VLANs, while these packets are forwarded across non-snooped VLANs.
Because DHCP packets are dropped, no new IP address assignments are made. However, DHCPRELEASE
and DHCPDECLINE packets are allowed so that the DHCP snooping table can decrease in size. After the
table usage falls below the maximum limit of 4000 entries, new IP address assignments are allowed.
NOTE: DHCP server packets are dropped on all not trusted interfaces of a system configured for
DHCP snooping. To prevent these packets from being dropped, configure ip dhcp snooping
trust
on the server-connected port.
Enabling DHCP Snooping
To enable DHCP snooping, use the following commands.
1. Enable DHCP snooping globally.
CONFIGURATION mode
ip dhcp snooping
2. Specify ports connected to DHCP servers as trusted.
INTERFACE mode
ip dhcp snooping trust
3. Enable DHCP snooping on a VLAN.
CONFIGURATION mode
ip dhcp snooping vlan name
Enabling IPv6 DHCP Snooping
To enable IPv6 DHCP snooping, use the following commands.
1. Enable IPv6 DHCP snooping globally.
CONFIGURATION mode
ipv6 dhcp snooping
2. Specify ports connected to IPv6 DHCP servers as trusted.
INTERFACE mode
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
331