Network device having universal address pool manager and a multi-protocol network address pool

The invention relates to a universal Address Pool Manager (APM) for processing network access address requests from clients operating at one of many access protocols. The APM, located within a network device, such as a router, manages an aggregated pool of network addresses and assigns addresses to the clients from the pool in accordance with the multiple access protocols. The aggregated address pool may be co-located within the network device with the APM, or alternatively, the address pool may be located within an off-box network device, such as an off-box authentication server or an off-box DHCP server. Utilization of an APM that manages an aggregated address pool for processing requests from multiple access protocols may reduce operational costs for network service providers that support multiple access networks.