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Configuration Protocol
The DHCP service brings three key values: 1) Operation tasks are reduced: the network
administrator no longer needs to manually configure each client before it can use the
network 2) The IP addressing plan is optimized: addresses no longer being used are freed
up and made available to new clients connecting 3) User mobility is easily managed: the
administrator doesn’t need to manually reconfigure a client when its network access point
changes.
Usage Scenarios
There are four key DHCP usage scenarios: 1. Initial Client Connection: the client requests
from the DHCP server an IP address and other parameter values for accessing network
services 2. IP Usage Extension: the client contacts the DHCP server to extend usage of its
current IP address 3. Client Connection After Reboot: the client contacts the DHCP server for
confirmation that it can use the same IP address being used before reboot 4. Client
Disconnection: the client requests the DHCP server to release its IP address.
DHCP Options
DHCP options can be used to automatically provide clients with information on the network
services it can use. This is a very efficient way to push the IP address of the time server, the
mail server, the DNS server and the printer server. This can also be used to provide a file
name and a file server that will be used by the client to start a specific boot process – mainly
used for IP phones and Wi-Fi access points, but can also be used for auto-installing clients
and servers with PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment).
The DHCP service can be enhanced by DHCP failover to bring high availability and load
balancing of traffic. The ISC DHCP Failover relies on having a pair of collaborating servers – a
primary (master) server and a secondary (backup) server. A TCP-based communication
channel, called a failover channel, then has to be set up between the two servers.