IP Autoconfiguration Addressing allows administrators to set the Obtain An IP Address Automatically option on Win98 clients without configuring a DHCP server. When booted, the PC will:

* Check for a DHCP server.

*Fail.

* Check to determine whether another PC has claimed an address in the 169.254.x.x Class B address range.

* Assign itself that address.

This behavior is useful only in small nonrouted networks where all hosts reside on the same subnet. However, it saves the small network administrator the task of issuing static addresses to each PC. If a DHCP server is later introduced to the network, the Win98 PCs will recognize the addition and lease an address without further configuration.

IP Autoconfiguration Addressing is enabled by default on Win98 PCs, but it can be disabled by right-clicking the IPAC_OFF.INF file in the