Broadcast Message without DHCP

[fergmj]

I have an interesting problem. I have two pieces of hardware (both without a Windows operating system -- running Xylinx FPGAs inside). I also have a software application that would be running on a Windows XP or Vista machine.

I need a way to send out a broadcast ethernet packet withouth DHCP or TCP. The two hardware devices will be listening to any broadcast messages and they can handle reacting accordingly. I just need to find a way to send out a user-defined broadcast ethernet packet.

Now the tricky part is that these two hardware devices may or may not be on the same subnet and I definitely won't know their IP address when I send out this message. The goal is to actually get them to change their IP to the address in my user defined ethernet packet that is broadcast.

Any ideas or thoughts would be more than welcome.

Thanks

fergmj

 

[network3r]

IMHO it is not possible to send an user defined MAC broadcast to an subnet behind a router in a real world network.

Mirko

http://www.nwlab.net

 

[dearingkr]

Normally, a broadcast is non-routable.
Any device must be on the same subnet.

The exception is if you have a DHCP Relay agent, IP helper address, etc. configured on your router. Then the broadcast is forwarded to a specific destination.

MCSE CCNA CCDA

 

[pmbtech]

check this post, I just did something very similar

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1518340&page=1