A system and method for obtaining configuration parameters from a dynamic host
configuration protocol (DHCP) server in a network device that uses an off-the-shelf
operating system. The operating system has a resident client that obtains a set
of configuration parameters and assigns the parameters without providing options
for obtaining additional parameters. A DHCP client is provided for obtaining a
desired set of configuration parameters. The DHCP client retrieves the parameters
from an offer made by the DHCP server and sends the parameters to a DHCP server
simulator. The DHCP client invokes the resident DHCP client to retrieve a set of
configuration parameters. The DHCP server simulator intercepts the request to the
server before the request is sent on the network. The DHCP server simulator simulates
an offer of the configuration parameters obtained in the request by the DHCP client.
