When looking at BitLocker Network Unlock, the first two packets sent by the BitLocker Network Unlock client have the message type option. Windows Server-based DHCP/BOOTP servers will return packets based on the protocol it thinks is in use by the client, accordingly. Messages that do not have the DHCP Message Type option are assumed to have been sent by a BOOTP client. Windows 8-based and Windows Server 2012-based client computers sometimes may not receive or use the Network Unlock Protector feature, depending on whether the client receives unrelated BOOTP replies from a DHCP server or WDS server.Īny message that is received by a DHCP server that includes a DHCP message option type 51 is assumed to have been sent by a DHCP client. This occurs even though the computer is connected through an Ethernet cable to the physical corporate Local Area Network (LAN) and the BitLocker Network Unlock feature is enabled and implemented. On a Windows 8-based client computer or Windows Server 2012-based server, you are prompted to enter the BitLocker PIN to start Windows. To properly support DHCP within UEFI, the UEFI-based system should be in native mode without a BIOS Compatibility Mode or Legacy Mode enabled.
This feature requires the client hardware to have a DHCP driver implemented in its UEFI 2.3.1 firmware. This feature allows for desktops and servers to be secure, but not burdening the user with security protocol. This feature allows for automatic unlock of the Operating System drive when a Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows Server 2012 Standard or Windows Server 2012 Datacenter machine is booted while connected to the corporate network. Basically, Windows 8-based and Windows Server 2012-based client computers sometimes may not receive or use the Network Unlock Protector feature, depending on whether the client receives unrelated BOOTP replies from a DHCP server or WDS server.Ī new feature in BitLocker Drive Encryption in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 is BitLocker Network Unlock. Last month, Microsoft released a KnowledgeBase article regarding BitLocker Network Unlock.