iPad fails networking 101; how to earn it a passing grade

The iPad is not playing nice with the DHCP protocol: if the screen is turned off, it doesn't release its IP address when it's supposed to. This leads to address conflicts when the DHCP server gives the address to another system, but there are ways around the problem.

<a href='http://meincmagazine.com/apple/news/2010/04/ipad-fails-networking-101-how-to-earn-it-a-passing-grade.ars'>Read the whole story</a>

 

[AndreaFaulds]

Like virtually all Internet-capable devices, iPads obtain an IP address using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) when they connect to a WiFi network.

Virtually all? Really? Do we have any statistics on this? Because in my house the majority of devices have fixed IP addresses, even on WiFi.

I might believe that statement if it were qualified with "consumer-grade devices" instead of the blanket "virtually all."

Virtually all Internet-capable devices. In this case, internet-capable means interactive internet-capable devices (smartphones etc.)
Wireless security cameras, print servers, printers, media streamers and the like usually have a fixed IP address, but only as to make port forwarding easier, and make programmers do less work

 

[AndreaFaulds]

Have you actually verified that this problem exists as described?

I have attempted to confirm the DHCP leasing problem but have not been able to reproduce it (the iPad requests a new DHCP lease when awaking it from sleep after the lease has expired). I suspect that the problem may be more complex and related in some way to the Princeton network.

Assigning fixed IP addresses may be problematic.

I doubt that so simple a DHCP problem would have escaped Apple system test so I suspect something more complex is involved.

Read more carefully.
"the iPad requests a new DHCP lease when awaking it from sleep after the lease has expired". No.
The problem is it isn't requesting a new one DURING sleep.
This is an issue I can confirm exists from experience with my iPod touch, which has the same issues.