Here is my environment:  I have a W2k Server (Domain Controller) on one network segment.  I have a microlab on another segment. I have a CISCO 2600 series router setting between these segments.  I use a ghosting product from Altiris called Rapid Deploy to boot the lab machines to the server to down/up load images and to multicast the image to other machines in the lab.  I use a boot floppy to access the image on the w2k server. The floppy is configured to use a DHCP server to obtain their machine's IPs.  The DHCP is running Red Hat Linux and a recent version of DHCP. I have helper addresses set up in the router and the DHCP leases are set for 24 hours.  The Windows MS Client and NetWare Client 32 both connect through the router.

Here is my delima: Using the boot floppy the DHCP handshaking starts but does not complete.  I can tell this by checking the DHCP log.  It shows the Discover (from the client) and the Offer (from the DHCP server) part of the handshaking taking place, but does not show the Response (from the client) and of course the Acknowlegement (from the DHCP server).  Therefore the communication fails. The Rapid Deploy program created the boot floppy.  The Startnet.Bat file looks like this:

cd A:\net
A:\net\net initialize
A:\net\netbind.com
A:\aname.exe
A:\net\tcptsr.exe
A:\net\tinyrfc.exe
if exist A:\net\connect.dat del A:\net\connect.dat > NUL
A:\bwlogin rapidd
A:\net\net use F: \\W2kdc01\Lab_Imaging /yes
A:\net\net use J: \\W2KDC01\Lab_Imaging /yes
F:

My Troubleshooting: I ran these commands manually and everything appears to work (no erros) until it gets to the line where it first tries to map a drive at "A:\net\net use F: \\W2kdc01\Lab_Imaging /yes".  At this point it returns the statement.

"Error 53:  The computer specified in the network path cannot be located"

When the Client is moved to the same segment as the server everything works fine.  I also set up NWlink on the server and tried using IPX and IPX works fine through the 2600 router.

I moved the client to a network segment attached to a CISCO 4006 router and couldn't get either IPX or IP to work from the floppy.

I did a search on Altiris' Web site and worked with them for a while and they were baffled too.

I would stay with IPX, but we are replacing the 2600s with the 4006 which doesn't let IPX pass via a boot floppy although the 32 bit NetWare and Window clients work fine when Windows boots up.

I have posted the IPX/4006 problem on a CISCO forum and received a lot of responses, none of which worked.  So, I thought I would try a DHCP forum.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.