Operation Manual - DHCP 
Quidway S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510  Chapter 3  
DHCP Relay Configuration
 
Huawei Technologies Proprietary 
3-1 
Chapter 3  DHCP Relay Configuration 
3.1  Introduction to DHCP Relay 
3.1.1  Usage of DHCP Relay 
Since the packets are broadcasted in the process of obtaining IP addresses, DHCP is 
only applicable to the situation that DHCP clients and DHCP servers are in the same 
network segment, that is, you need to deploy at least one DHCP server for each 
network segment, which is far from economical. 
DHCP Relay is designed to address this problem. It enables DHCP clients in a subnet 
to communicate with the DHCP server in another subnet so that the DHCP clients can 
obtain IP addresses. In this case, the DHCP clients in multiple networks can use the 
same DHCP server, which can decrease your cost and provide a centralized 
administration. 
3.1.2  DHCP Relay Fundamentals 
Figure 3-1 illustrates a typical DHCP relay application. 
Ether net Inter net
DHCP 
client
DHCP clientDHCP client
DHCP client
Switch ( DHCP relay
)
DHCP server
Ether net Inter net
DHCP 
client
DHCP clientDHCP client
DHCP client
)
Ether net Inter net
DHCP 
client
DHCP clientDHCP client
DHCP client
Switch ( DHCP relay
)
DHCP server
Ether net Inter net
DHCP 
client
DHCP clientDHCP client
DHCP client
)
Ether net Inter net
DHCP 
client
DHCP clientDHCP client
DHCP client
Switch ( DHCP relay
)
DHCP server
Ether net Inter net
DHCP 
client
Ether net Inter net
DHCP 
client
DHCP clientDHCP client
DHCP client
Switch ( DHCP relay
)
DHCP server
Ether net Inter net
DHCP 
client
DHCP clientDHCP client
DHCP client
)
 
Figure 3-1 Typical DHCP relay application 
DHCP relays can transparently transmit broadcast packets on DHCP clients or servers 
to the DHCP servers or clients in other network segments.   
In the process of dynamic IP address assignment through the DHCP relay, the DHCP 
client and DHCP server interoperate with each other in a similar way as they do 
without the DHCP relay. The following sections only describe the forwarding process 
of the DHCP relay. For the interaction process of the packets, see 
1.2.2  Obtaining IP 
Addresses Dynamically
.  
1)  The DHCP client broadcasts the DHCP-DISCOVER packet.