DHCP server role: Configuring a DHCP server

DHCP servers centrally manage IP addresses and related information and provide it to clients automatically. This allows you to configure client network settings at a server, instead of configuring them on each client computer. If you want this computer to distribute IP addresses to clients, then configure this computer as a DHCP server.

This topic explains the basic steps that you must follow to configure a DHCP server. When you have finished setting up a basic DHCP server, you can complete additional configuration tasks, depending on how you want to use the DHCP server.

Before you begin

Before you configure your computer as a DHCP server, verify that:

  • You are familiar with DHCP concepts such as scopes, leases, and options.

  • The operating system is configured correctly. In Windows Server® 2008, DHCP depends on the appropriate configuration of the operating system and its services.

  • This computer has a static IP address (see Configuring a DHCP server static IP address.)

  • All existing disk volumes use the NTFS file system. FAT32 volumes are not secure, and they do not support file and folder compression, disk quotas, file encryption, or individual file permissions.

When you add the DHCP server role, you create one scope that defines the range of IP addresses that the DHCP server allocates to the clients on one subnet. You need to create one scope for each subnet that has clients that you want to manage using DHCP. The following table lists the information that you need to know before you add the DHCP server role, so that you can create the first scope. You need to collect the same information for each additional scope.

Before adding a DHCP server role Comments

Review DHCP security issues.

Security issues might affect the way you deploy DHCP servers. Make sure you understand how DHCP uses security groups. For more information, see More About DHCP Security Groups.

Identify the range of IP addresses that the DHCP server should allocate to the clients.

Use the entire range of consecutive IP addresses that make up the local IP subnet. In many cases, a private address range is the best choice. For more information and a list of all the IP address ranges approved for use on private networks, see RFC 1918, "Address Allocation for Private Internets", at the Internet Engineering Task Force Web site.

Determine the correct subnet mask for the clients.

When the DHCP server leases an IP address to a client, the server can specify additional configuration information, including the subnet mask.

Identify any IP addresses that the DHCP server should not allocate to clients.

For example, a server or a network-connected printer often has a static IP address, and the DHCP server must not offer this IP address to clients.

Decide the duration of the lease of the IP addresses.

The default is eight days. In general, the duration of the lease should be equal to the average time that the clients on this subnet are active. For example, the ideal duration may be longer than eight days if the clients are desktop computers that are rarely turned off, or it may be shorter than eight days if the clients are mobile devices that frequently leave the network or are moved between subnets.

(Optional) Identify the IP address of the router (default gateway) that the clients should use to communicate with clients on other subnets.

When the DHCP server leases an IP address to a client, the server can specify additional configuration information, including the IP address of the router.

(Optional) Identify the name of the DNS domain of the clients.

When the DHCP server leases an IP address to a client, the server can specify additional configuration information, including the name of the DNS domain to which the clients belong.

(Optional) Identify the IP address of the DNS server that the clients should use.

When the DHCP server leases an IP address to a client, the server can specify additional configuration information, including the IP address of the DNS server that the clients should contact to resolve the name of another computer.

(Optional) Identify the IP address of the WINS server that the clients should use.

When the DHCP server leases an IP address to a client, the server can specify additional configuration information, including the IP address of the WINS server that the clients should contact to resolve the NetBIOS name of another computer.

Installing DHCP server

To install a DHCP server

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, click Server Manager, and then acknowledge User Account Control.

  2. In Roles Summary click Add Roles, click Next, check DHCP server, and then click Next.

Additional Resources

For updated detailed IT pro information about DHCP and server roles, see the Windows Server 2008 documentation on the Microsoft TechNet Web site.

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