JSI Tip 8290. When you use Netsh.exe to configure DHCP scope options on Windows Server 2003, you receive 'The specified option does not exist'?

In Windows Server 2003, you MUST open the DHCP MMC and connect to at least one DHCP server before you can use Netsh.exe to configure DHCP scope options.

NOTE: In Windows Server 2003, option definitions are created in %SystemRoot%system32dhcpdhcp.mdb. In Windows 2000, the DHCP options where stored in the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftDhcpServerConfigurationOptionInfo.

To workaround the problem:

1. Close all MMCs.

2. Open the DHCP MMC.

3. Connect to one or more DHCP servers.

4. Run the Netsh.exe tool.

If another DHCP server exists, and is functional, stop its' DHCPSERVER service, and use a batch file like:

@echo offnet stop dhcpserverdel /q %systemroot%system32dhcpdhcp.mdbcopy \OtherDHCPc$WindowsSystem32dhcpdhcp.mdb %systemroot%system32dhcp*.*net start dhcpservernetsh dhcp server IP address set optionvalue Value dword Value