Method and apparatus for identifying clients using incoming option data

摘要

A method and apparatus in a distributed data processing system for selecting configuration information for a client in the distributed data processing system. A request is received at a server from the client for configuration information. A subnet for the client is identified using the configuration information. A set of identification tokens is identified from the request. A plurality of containers in a hierarchical structure is traversed using the subnet and identification tokens to identify selected containers within the plurality of containers matching the subnet and the identification tokens. The identified containers are selected in an order the preserves preference as determined by their arrangement in the hierarchical structure and by the data that each contains. Configuration information is obtained from selected containers within the plurality of containers to form selected configuration information. The selected configuration information is sent to the client.