MANETconf: Configuration of Hosts in a Mobile Ad Hoc Network

A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a multi-hop wireless network capable of autonomous operation. The mobility of MANET nodes can lead to frequent and unpredictable topology changes. Most MANET literature assumes that network related information of a node (such as its IP address, netmask, etc.) is configured statically, prior to the node joining the MANET. However, not all nodes have IP addresses permanently assigned to them. Such nodes rely on a centralized server and use a dynamic host configuration protocol, like DHCP [1], to acquire an IP address. Such a solution cannot be employed in MANETs due to the unavailability of any centralized DHCP server. In this paper, we first present a survey of possible solutions approaches, and discuss their limitations. Then, we present a distributed dynamic host configuration protocol designed to configure nodes in a MANET. We show that the proposed protocol works correctly and does not have the limitations of earlier approaches. Finally, we evaluate the performance of the solution through simulation experiments, and conclude with a discussion of related security issues. Keywords— MANET, dynamic host configuration, DHCP, IP-networks, network configuration, security.