Why do I get the error "Could not start the DHCPdNT service on Local Computer Error 2"?

Operational "How to" Guides

Summary

"Could not start the DHCPdNT service on Local Computer Error 2" Explanation and Solution

Description

Symptom

On the SANTester controller I am using, although DHCPdNT is present, it will not start. When manually trying to start, I get the error:

Could not start the DHCPdNT service on Local Computer Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified.

In the services, I also have DHCP Client and DHCP Server both running.

Solution

The DHCPDNT registry entry may be set to a value that is different than the one on the system's LAN card.

1. The dhcpd.conf file will expect that the LAN card is set to 10.0.0.1/8. Verify that this is the case. If the LAN card address has been changed verify that the dhcpd.conf file has been modified to match the new settings.
2. If that fails, run regedit, back up the registry file, and then check that HKLM/SYSTEM/CURRENT CONTROL SET/SERVICES/DHCPDNT/PARAMETERS has the interfaces0 value set to the IP address on the LAN card.

If this fails to correct the problem, it might be that the system cannot find the dhpcdnt.exe. Verify that the dhpcdnt service is looking for the executable in the correct location.

To do this you need to:

1. Open the services control panel
2. Select dhcpdnt, right click and select properties
3. Check that the 'path to executable' is set to the default c:\dhcpdnt\dhcpdnt.exe
4. If it is then verify that c:\dhcpdnt\dhcpdnt.exe exists
5. If it is not there then delete the c:\dhcpdnt directory, uninstall SanTester then re-install.