Dell Force10 MXL Blade - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP); Overview

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) | 159
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Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
This chapter contains the following sections:
• Overview
• Implementation Information
• Configuration Tasks
• 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
Overview
Dynamic host configuration protocol (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.
• 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—a network device offering configuration parameters to the client.
• DHCP Client—a network device requesting configuration parameters from the server.
• Relay agent—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.