Dynamic Host Configuration
DHCP is an application layer protocol that dynamically assigns IP addresses and other configuration
parameters to network end-stations (hosts) based on configuration policies determined by network
administrators.
DHCP relieves network administrators of manually configuring hosts, which can be a tedious and error-prone
process when hosts often join, leave, and change locations on the network and it reclaims IP addresses that
are no longer in use to prevent address exhaustion.
DHCP is based on a client-server model. A host discovers the DHCP server and requests an IP address, and
the server either leases or permanently assigns one. There are three types of devices that are involved in
DHCP negotiation:
DHCP Server
This is a network device offering configuration parameters to the client.
DHCP Client
This is a network device requesting configuration parameters from the server.
Relay Agent
This is an intermediary network device that passes DHCP messages between the client
and server when the server is not on the same subnet as the host.
Topics:
•
DHCP Packet Format and Options
•
Assign an IP Address using DHCP
•
Implementation Information
•
Configure the System to be a DHCP Server
•
Configure the System to be a Relay Agent
•
Configure the System to be a DHCP Client
•
Configure Secure DHCP
•
Source Address Validation
DHCP Packet Format and Options
DHCP uses the user datagram protocol (UDP) as its transport protocol.
The server listens on port 67 and transmits to port 68; the client listens on port 68 and transmits to port 67.
The configuration parameters are carried as options in the DHCP packet in Type, Length, Value (TLV) format;
many options are specified in RFC 2132. To limit the number of parameters that servers must provide, hosts
Protocol (DHCP)
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
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