kea/doc/devel/02-dhcp.dox

/**
 * @page libdhcp libdhcp++
 *
 * @section libdhcpIntro Libdhcp++ Library Introduction
 *
 * libdhcp++ is an all-purpose DHCP-manipulation library, written in
 * C++. It offers packet parsing and assembly, DHCPv4 and DHCPv6
 * options parsing and ssembly, interface detection (currently on
 * Linux systems only) and socket operations. Following classes are
 * implemented:
 *
 * - isc::dhcp::Pkt4 - represents DHCPv4 packet.
 * - isc::dhcp::Pkt6 - represents DHCPv6 packet.
 *
 * There are two pointer types defined: Pkt4Ptr and Pkt6Ptr. They are
 * smart pointer and are using boost::shared_ptr. There are not const
 * versions defined, as we assume that hooks can modify any aspect of
 * the packet at almost any stage of processing.
 *
 * Both packets use collection of Option objects to represent DHCPv4
 * and DHCPv6 options. The base class -- Option -- can be used to
 * represent generic option that contains collection of
 * bytes. Depending on if the option is instantiated as v4 or v6
 * option, it will adjust its header (DHCPv4 options use 1 octet for
 * type and 1 octet for length, while DHCPv6 options use 2 bytes for
 * each).
 *
 * There are many specialized classes that are intended to handle options with
 * specific content:
 * - isc::dhcp::Option4AddrLst -- DHCPv4 option, contains one or more IPv4 addresses;
 * - isc::dhcp::Option6AddrLst -- DHCPv6 option, contains one or more IPv6 addresses;
 * - isc::dhcp::Option6IAAddr -- DHCPv6 option, represents IAADDR_OPTION (an option that
 *                     contains IPv6 address with extra parameters);
 * - isc::dhcp::Option6IA -- DHCPv6 option used to store IA_NA and its suboptions.
 *
 * All options can store sub-options (i.e. options that are stored within option
 * rather than in a message directly). This functionality is commonly used in
 * DHCPv6, but is rarely used in DHCPv4. isc::dhcp::Option::addOption(),
 * isc::dhcp::Option::delOption(), isc::dhcp::Option::getOption() can be used
 * for that purpose.
 *
 * @section libdhcpIfaceMgr Interface Manager
 *
 * Interface Manager (or IfaceMgr) is an abstraction layer about low-level
 * network operations. In particlar, it provides information about existing
 * network interfaces See isc::dhcp::IfaceMgr::Iface class and
 * isc::dhcp::IfaceMgr::detectIfaces() and isc::dhcp::IfaceMgr::getIface().
 *
 * Currently there is interface detection is implemented in Linux only. There
 * are plans to implement such support for other OSes, but they remain low
 * priority for now.
 *
 * Generic parts of the code are isc::dhcp::IfaceMgr class in
 * src/lib/dhcp/iface_mgr.cc file. OS-specific code is located in separate
 * files, e.g. iface_mgr_linux.cc. Such separation should be maintained when
 * additional code will be developed.
 *
 * For systems that interface detection is not supported on, there is a stub
 * mechanism implemented. It assumes that interface name is read from a text
 * file. This is a temporary solution and will be removed as soon as proper
 * interface detection is implemented. It is not going to be developed further.
 * To use this feature, store interfaces.txt file. It uses a simple syntax.
 * Each line represents an interface name, followed by IPv4 or IPv6 address
 * that follows it. This is usually link-local IPv6 address that the server
 * should bind to. In theory this mechanism also supports IPv4, but it was
 * never tested. The code currently supports only a single interface defined
 * that way.
 *
 * Another useful methods are dedicated to transmission
 * (isc::dhcp::IfaceMgr::send(), 2 overloads) and reception
 * (isc::dhcp::IfaceMgr::receive4() and isc::dhcp::IfaceMgr::receive6()).
 * Note that receive4() and receive6() methods may return NULL, e.g.
 * when timeout is reached or if dhcp daemon receives a signal.
 */