A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server includes a memory storing computer-readable instructions, and a processor configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to determine a media access control (MAC) address associated with a client, determine the MAC address associated with the client is a randomized MAC address, and assign an IP address the client from a DHCP IP server pool. The processor assigns an IP address to the client from a DHCP IP server pool using one of identifying, in a DHCP server table, at least one host name of the client and assigning a previously assigned IP address to the at least one host name of the client, and when the host name of the client is not available, assigning the IP address using a first lease with a first duration shorter than a default lease duration used for non-randomized MAC addresses.

A method includes linking, at an access node, a first media control access (MAC) address of a device to an identifier of the device to establish a communication session between the access node and the device and during the communication session, receiving, at the access node, an indication of a change of the first MAC address to a second MAC address. The method also includes linking, at the access node, the second MAC address to the first MAC address and the identifier and receiving, at the access node, a communication from the device using the second MAC address while maintaining the communication session.

A data transmission method includes: receiving, by the PNF SDN controller, a first packet and an access loop identifier that are sent by a first network device; generating, by the PNF SDN controller, a second packet based on the access loop identifier and the first packet; and sending, by the PNF SDN controller, the second packet to the virtualized network function software-defined networking VNF SDN controller, so that the VNF SDN controller sends the second packet to a second network device, where the second packet is used to request the second network device to assign an IP address or IP address prefix to user equipment.

In one embodiment, a service maintains a database of media access control (MAC) addresses of devices in a network and their associated telemetry data captured from the network. The service identifies a new MAC address being used by a particular device in the network. The service matches telemetry data associated with the new MAC address with telemetry data in the database associated with another MAC address, by using the telemetry data associated with the new MAC address as input to a machine learning-based classifier. The service determines, based on the matching, that the MAC address in the database associated with the matched telemetry data has been updated to the new MAC address by the particular device.

A system and method are provided for a network device for use with a client device having a hostname and a MAC address. The network device contains a memory that has a second hostname and a second MAC address stored within the memory. The second MAC address corresponds to the second hostname. The memory also contains a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory to cause the network device to: receive, from the client device, the hostname and the MAC address; determine whether the MAC address is randomized; provide an instruction to the client device to inform a user of the client device that the client device hostname is registered when the hostname matches the second hostname and the MAC address is randomized.

A system and method are provided for a network device for use with a client device having a hostname and a MAC address. The network device contains a memory that has a second hostname and a second MAC address stored within the memory. The second MAC address corresponds to the second hostname. The memory also contains a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory to cause the network device to: receive, from the client device, the hostname and the MAC address; determine whether the MAC address is randomized; provide an instruction to the client device to inform a user of the client device that the client device hostname is registered when the hostname matches the second hostname and the MAC address is randomized.

An overlay network is contemplated. The overlay network may be characterized as supporting, or at least virtually supporting, separate networks over a common infrastructure. The common infrastructure may be comprised of a plurality of routers or other devices configured to facilitate directing messages according to various addressing requirements. The use of the separate networks may be dictated according to the particular addressing requirements of each message desired for transport.

This application provides a method for allocating an IP address, including: establishing, by a session management network element, a session for a terminal apparatus, where the session is used for transmitting a data packet via a control plane network element; allocating, by the session management network element, an IP address to the terminal apparatus; and sending, by the session management network element, the data packet to the terminal apparatus via a mobility management network element, where the data packet includes the IP address. In a case in which the terminal apparatus can obtain the IP address without establishing an additional connection channel, the terminal apparatus can obtain the IP address more flexibly, and occupation of excessive signaling resources can be avoided.

Technologies are generally described for updating a device address based on predetermined event occurrences. In some examples, a method performed under control of a first device that is connected to a second device via a communication network may include generating a device address for the first device for use in data communications with the second device via the communication network; re-setting an event counter; detecting a first occurrence of an event associated with the first device; counting, by the event counter, occurrences of the detected event; determining that the counted number of occurrences reaches a threshold value; and generating a new device address for the first device.

A communication device comprises a memory for storing a device identity; a data transmitter for supporting communication links with other devices; and a communication controller, wherein the controller is configured to periodically vary the stored device identity and to cause the data transmitter to periodically transmit the stored device identity so that the device can be identified.