Tip of the Day: DHCP client and Web Proxy Auto-Discovery

Today’s tip…

Starting with Windows 8, the DHCP client requests the Web Proxy Auto-Discovery (WPAD) configuration from DHCP as part of the default parameter request list during DHCP address acquisition.  If the Web Proxy Auto-Discovery option is configured in DHCP, the client will get the WPAD server information during the initial DHCP address acquisition process.  Previously, the WPAD option was not retrieved from DHCP until an application, like Internet Explorer, was started which requested this option from DHCP as part of automatic proxy discovery. The WPAD option is DHCP Option 252.