[Cialug] Networks service detection/configuration

[Nicolai]

On Fri, Mar 02, 2012 at 08:43:34AM -0600, Jim Popken wrote:

> 2. Detect if there is a dhcp server available and if not start it's own
> dhcp server.

I just want to caution that you should be very careful with this.  It's not
uncommon to issue a DHCP request and not get a response, for various
reasons.  If you were to accidentally put your own DHCP server onto your
work's corporate network, you could be responsible for a lot of anger
and downtime.

I wouldn't even consider doing this without running a DHCP server for a 
while at a minimum, and I wouldn't suggest doing it automatically, either.

Really, you ought to get a $20 machine from surplus for your home
network.  Laptops shouldn't be running DHCP servers or servicing DNS for
anyone but 127.0.0.1.

Nicolai