Apple TV 4K keeps requesting DHCP lease
Philip Prindeville
philipp_subx at redfish-solutions.com
Sun Jul 27 17:00:17 UTC 2025
> On Jul 24, 2025, at 12:56 PM, Barry Stear <bstear at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Phillip,
>
> Looking at the tcpdump the issue looks to be caused by three things :
>
> 1) Both of your Apple TV's have a hostname of Penthouse-6
No, that’s the two MAC addresses of one of the Apple TV’s, Ethernet and WiFi. We do that for all of the devices that have two interfaces, or WiFi and a wired docking station.
> 2) Your configuration file specified a hostname of "Penthouse" for both of the MAC addresses which does not match either of them so they are not getting assigned the IP address that you are wanting
> 3) You specified both of them should get an ip address of 192.168.6.242 which is not possible.
Whether “Penthouse” is on WiFi or wired Ethernet, it should get the same address.
It’s curious that it’s doing DHCP on both interfaces even though in the setup, I’ve explicitly selected Ethernet. It didn’t used to do that.
>
> To resolve this, you need to rename one of your Apple TV's to another name, perhaps Penthouse-5 and then update the configuration file to match the mac address with the correct Hostname. Below, I highlighted the Request with the MAC address and Hostname coming in the DHCP request message from the Apple TV's as well as where you specified Penthouse as the hostname in your configuration file.
>
> host Penthouse-9c3e530d9fbe {
> hardware ethernet 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be;
> fixed-address 192.168.6.242;
> option host-name "Penthouse";
> if exists dhcp-parameter-request-list {
> option dhcp-parameter-request-list = concat(option dhcp-parameter-request-list, 3a);
> }
> }
This is the wired interface. The adding of (n) is something that Avahi does when it detects a collision on the name.
> host Penthouse-9c3e5309d1c5 {
> hardware ethernet 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5;
> fixed-address 192.168.6.242;
> option host-name "Penthouse";
> if exists dhcp-parameter-request-list {
> option dhcp-parameter-request-list = concat(option dhcp-parameter-request-list, 3a);
> }
>
> 00:07:22.605432 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5 > ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 22192, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5, length 300, xid 0x87ec8a54, secs 1, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: Request
> Parameter-Request (55), length 9: Subnet-Mask (1), Classless-Static-Route (121), Default-Gateway (3), Domain-Name-Server (6)
> Domain-Name (15), Unknown (108), URL (114), Unknown (119)
> Unknown (252)
> MSZ (57), length 2: 1500
> Client-ID (61), length 7: ether 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Requested-IP (50), length 4: 192.168.6.242
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 7776000
> Hostname (12), length 11: "Penthouse-6"
> 00:07:22.605800 ac:1f:6b:1d:fb:80 > 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x10, ttl 128, id 0, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 192.168.6.1.67 > 192.168.6.242.68: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Reply, length 300, xid 0x87ec8a54, secs 1, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Your-IP 192.168.6.242
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: ACK
> Server-ID (54), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 43200
> Subnet-Mask (1), length 4: 255.255.255.0
> Default-Gateway (3), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name-Server (6), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name (15), length 21: "redfish-solutions.com"
> 00:07:24.859045 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be > ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 22193, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be, length 300, xid 0xbfede3b8, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: Request
> Parameter-Request (55), length 9: Subnet-Mask (1), Classless-Static-Route (121), Default-Gateway (3), Domain-Name-Server (6)
> Domain-Name (15), Unknown (108), URL (114), Unknown (119)
> Unknown (252)
> MSZ (57), length 2: 1500
> Client-ID (61), length 7: ether 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be
> Requested-IP (50), length 4: 192.168.6.242
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 7776000
> Hostname (12), length 11: "Penthouse-6"
>
> On Thu, Jul 24, 2025 at 12:19 AM Philip Prindeville <philipp_subx at redfish-solutions.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a couple of Apple TV’s that keep harassing my DHCP server, which is 4.4.3-P1.
>
> Traces are below.
>
> The config for my server looks like:
>
> authoritative;
> ddns-domainname "redfish-solutions.com.";
> ddns-update-style standard;
> ddns-updates on;
> ignore client-updates;
>
> update-static-leases on;
> use-host-decl-names on;
> update-conflict-detection off;
> update-optimization off;
>
> …
>
> log-facility daemon;
> default-lease-time 3600;
> max-lease-time 86400;
> option domain-name "redfish-solutions.com";
>
> # additional codes
> option classless-ipv4-route code 121 = array of { unsigned integer 8 };
> …
>
> subnet 192.168.6.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
> option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;
> option broadcast-address 192.168.6.255;
> deny unknown-clients;
> default-lease-time 43200;
> max-lease-time 43200;
> option routers 192.168.6.1;
> option domain-name-servers 192.168.6.1;
> }
>
> …
>
> host Penthouse-9c3e530d9fbe {
> hardware ethernet 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be;
> fixed-address 192.168.6.242;
> option host-name "Penthouse";
> if exists dhcp-parameter-request-list {
> option dhcp-parameter-request-list = concat(option dhcp-parameter-request-list, 3a);
> }
> }
> host Penthouse-9c3e5309d1c5 {
> hardware ethernet 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5;
> fixed-address 192.168.6.242;
> option host-name "Penthouse";
> if exists dhcp-parameter-request-list {
> option dhcp-parameter-request-list = concat(option dhcp-parameter-request-list, 3a);
> }
> }
>
>
> I’ve provisioned both the Ethernet and WiFi MAC addresses but the TV’s are hardwired.
>
> The tcpdumps look like:
>
> 00:07:22.605432 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5 > ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 22192, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5, length 300, xid 0x87ec8a54, secs 1, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: Request
> Parameter-Request (55), length 9: Subnet-Mask (1), Classless-Static-Route (121), Default-Gateway (3), Domain-Name-Server (6)
> Domain-Name (15), Unknown (108), URL (114), Unknown (119)
> Unknown (252)
> MSZ (57), length 2: 1500
> Client-ID (61), length 7: ether 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Requested-IP (50), length 4: 192.168.6.242
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 7776000
> Hostname (12), length 11: "Penthouse-6"
> 00:07:22.605800 ac:1f:6b:1d:fb:80 > 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x10, ttl 128, id 0, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 192.168.6.1.67 > 192.168.6.242.68: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Reply, length 300, xid 0x87ec8a54, secs 1, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Your-IP 192.168.6.242
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: ACK
> Server-ID (54), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 43200
> Subnet-Mask (1), length 4: 255.255.255.0
> Default-Gateway (3), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name-Server (6), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name (15), length 21: "redfish-solutions.com"
> 00:07:24.859045 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be > ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 22193, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be, length 300, xid 0xbfede3b8, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: Request
> Parameter-Request (55), length 9: Subnet-Mask (1), Classless-Static-Route (121), Default-Gateway (3), Domain-Name-Server (6)
> Domain-Name (15), Unknown (108), URL (114), Unknown (119)
> Unknown (252)
> MSZ (57), length 2: 1500
> Client-ID (61), length 7: ether 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be
> Requested-IP (50), length 4: 192.168.6.242
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 7776000
> Hostname (12), length 11: "Penthouse-6"
> 00:07:24.859370 ac:1f:6b:1d:fb:80 > 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x10, ttl 128, id 0, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 192.168.6.1.67 > 192.168.6.242.68: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Reply, length 300, xid 0xbfede3b8, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Your-IP 192.168.6.242
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:0d:9f:be
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: ACK
> Server-ID (54), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 43200
> Subnet-Mask (1), length 4: 255.255.255.0
> Default-Gateway (3), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name-Server (6), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name (15), length 21: "redfish-solutions.com”
> 00:07:34.809046 58:d3:49:e7:ca:37 > ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 38810, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 58:d3:49:e7:ca:37, length 300, xid 0x27e24d21, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Client-Ethernet-Address 58:d3:49:e7:ca:37
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: Request
> Parameter-Request (55), length 9: Subnet-Mask (1), Classless-Static-Route (121), Default-Gateway (3), Domain-Name-Server (6)
> Domain-Name (15), Unknown (108), URL (114), Unknown (119)
> Unknown (252)
> MSZ (57), length 2: 1500
> Client-ID (61), length 7: ether 58:d3:49:e7:ca:37
> Requested-IP (50), length 4: 192.168.6.240
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 7776000
> Hostname (12), length 13: "Living-Room-2"
> 00:07:34.809455 ac:1f:6b:1d:fb:80 > 58:d3:49:e7:ca:37, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x10, ttl 128, id 0, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 192.168.6.1.67 > 192.168.6.240.68: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Reply, length 300, xid 0x27e24d21, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Your-IP 192.168.6.240
> Client-Ethernet-Address 58:d3:49:e7:ca:37
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: ACK
> Server-ID (54), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 43200
> Subnet-Mask (1), length 4: 255.255.255.0
> Default-Gateway (3), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name-Server (6), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name (15), length 21: "redfish-solutions.com"
> 00:07:40.513058 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5 > ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 22195, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5, length 300, xid 0x87ec8a55, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: Request
> Parameter-Request (55), length 9: Subnet-Mask (1), Classless-Static-Route (121), Default-Gateway (3), Domain-Name-Server (6)
> Domain-Name (15), Unknown (108), URL (114), Unknown (119)
> Unknown (252)
> MSZ (57), length 2: 1500
> Client-ID (61), length 7: ether 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Requested-IP (50), length 4: 192.168.6.242
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 7776000
> Hostname (12), length 11: "Penthouse-6"
> 00:07:40.513486 ac:1f:6b:1d:fb:80 > 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5, ethertype IPv4 (0x0800), length 342: (tos 0x10, ttl 128, id 0, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
> 192.168.6.1.67 > 192.168.6.242.68: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Reply, length 300, xid 0x87ec8a55, Flags [none] (0x0000)
> Your-IP 192.168.6.242
> Client-Ethernet-Address 9c:3e:53:09:d1:c5
> Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
> Magic Cookie 0x63825363
> DHCP-Message (53), length 1: ACK
> Server-ID (54), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Lease-Time (51), length 4: 43200
> Subnet-Mask (1), length 4: 255.255.255.0
> Default-Gateway (3), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name-Server (6), length 4: 192.168.6.1
> Domain-Name (15), length 21: "redfish-solutions.com”
>
>
> And this repeats every 15-30 seconds. It’s filling up my firewall logs.
>
> The older Apple TV’s (the HD, not 4K ones) don’t do this. Yes, all the devices are running current firmware.
>
> Anyone else ever seen this?
>
> Thanks
>
>
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