User Behavior and Devices Analysis of a Large-scale Wireless Local Area Network Based on DHCP

Abstract

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is used to effectively allocate IP addresses on a local area network. Despite the widespread usage of DHCP, few studies related to users exist on DHCP server logs, and even less is known about the user behavior and devices of a large-scale wireless local area network (WLAN). In this paper, we propose a methodology to feasibly analyse mobility and concentration of users and generally analyse the temporal distribution and the providers’ distribution of wireless devices. The method is not involved with user privacy and safety, and fully explores available DHCP metrics and logs. Our results show that individual users are more likely to concentrate in labs and classrooms on weekdays while they prefer to concentrate in their dormitory and library on the weekends. The online time of 80% of wireless devices is less than 10 hours and the provider Apple takes nearly 50% of all wireless devices according to the data set of T University. We except similar benefits to arise for analyzing large-scale WLAN and optimize DHCP.