Dhcp Overview; Understanding Dhcp; Dhcp On The Bcm; Router Dhcp Server - Nortel BCM50 Configuration Manual

Chapter 65

DHCP overview

On the BCM, DHCP can be set up in a variety of configurations, based on your needs, your
existing network, and the version of the BCM that you have.
The following explains the various ways that you can configure DHCP on the BCM (including
router and main configuration).
• "Understanding DHCP" on page 475
• "DHCP network scenarios" on page 476
• "Default configurations" on page 478

Understanding DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a protocol used to assign IP addresses to devices
on an IP network dynamically. With DHCP, each device obtains a new IP address every time it
connects to the network. DHCP allows a server to keep track of the IP addresses for all IP devices
on the network.
On the BCM, DHCP reduces the complexity of configuring IP devices, particularly IP phones. Not
only do IP phones receive an IP address through DHCP, they also receive additional information
such as gateway and port information.

DHCP on the BCM

The BCM uses DHCP in a variety of ways. The core of the BCM has a DHCP server. In addition
to providing IP addresses to devices on the LAN, this DHCP server also provides a DHCP address
to the OAM port and to the DSP LAN.
If you have a BCM with a router, the router also has a DHCP server that provides addresses to
devices on the LAN. If the DHCP server on the embedded router is enabled, you will not be able to
configure the DHCP settings on the BCM. This prevents situations where the two DHCP servers
might conflict with one another.
In addition to these two DHCP components, the BCM is also designed to work with other DHCP
devices that may already be on the network.

Router DHCP Server

Both the BCM50a and the BCM50e have a DHCP server.
Networking Configuration Guide
475