dnsmasq - make it send new static ip to client

I needed to set a new static IP address on a client host that already had got one assigned by DHCP in dnsmasq, and the IP address I wanted to use was recently used by another client host that had been taken down.

Just restarting dhclient on the client did not work, not even re-requesting a release - dnsmasq just returned the old DHCP IP.

Server - clear the lease file from any reference

On the server running dnsmasq:
  Ensure the MAC is assigned to the correct IP it is not assigned to the wrong client

  # shutdown dnsmasq
  service dnsmasq stop

  # edit the lease file and remove these lines:
  # the lines with the MAC address and IP address currently assigned to the client
  # the target static IP address

  vi /tmp/var/lib/misc/dnsmasq.leases

Client - request release and ip again

  
On the client:
  # request lease release, shutdown the interface, sleep for a while bring up the interface, run the client
  dhclient -r <interface>; ifconfig <interface> down; sleep 10; ifconfig <interface> up; dhclient <interface>

  # maybe it works with just
  dhclient -r <interface>; dhclient <interface>

Server - check the dnsmasq log to find out what is happening.

  tail -n200 /var/log/dnsmasq.log

Log discoveries

This worked for me, but I noted some things from the dnsmasq log:

  The client requests a release
  DHCPRELEASE(<dnsmasq interface>) X.X.X.X AA:BB:CC:DD:EE unknown lease

  But then it re-asks for the same IP again
  DHCPREQUEST(<dnsmasq interface>) X.X.X.X AA:BB:CC:DD:EE

  The server however however is not fooled:
  DHCPNAK(<dnsmasq interface>) X.X.X.X AA:BB:CC:DD:EE static lease available

  The client asks for a new IP:
  DHCPDISCOVER(<dnsmasq interface>) AA:BB:CC:DD:EE

  The server responds with an offer from the static table:
  DHCPOFFER(<dnsmasq interface>) Y.Y.Y.Y AA:BB:CC:DD:EE

  Which the client accepts:
  DHCPREQUEST(<dnsmasq interface>) Y.Y.Y.Y AA:BB:CC:DD:EE

  And the server acknowledges:
  DHCPACK(<dnsmasq interface>) Y.Y.Y.Y AA:BB:CC:DD:EE <client hostname>