The DHCP server is one of the really beneficial components when we are speaking for an extensive network. It can significantly reduce the number of errors made when a network administrator has to assign IP addresses manually. Let’s explain a little bit more about it and why it is used!
DHCP server – What does it mean?
The short DHCP server stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server. It is a server that automates different tasks and network configurations. This server relies on the standard DHCP protocol inside a particular network. Some examples of implementing the DHCP server are assigning Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to various devices, default gateways, subnet masks.
When you have a DHCP server, it is going to serve the queries of the clients automatically. Furthermore, it is going to provide them all required parameters and configurations to achieve communication on the network without any difficulties.
In case you don’t have a DHCP server, these kinds of tasks are going to be a responsibility of the network administrators. They will have to serve those requirements of clients to join the network, all of it performed manually. In more extensive networks, this could be a full-time job.
Why use a DHCP server?
The process of supplying, administrating, and renewing IP addresses will become automated and dynamic. You just have to set up your particular preferences on the DHCP server. As a result, the process is going to operate without the need for any permanent further supervision.
Human mistakes are lead to a minimum, and automation helps with it. Every device, such as a smartphone or a computer that wants to connect successfully to a particular network requires a unique IP address. It is not possible for one IP address to work at the same time for several devices.
The connection is not going to be achieved. Leases require to be monitored and renewed. Endpoints need to be modified, etc. Such tasks are capable of overwhelming the most prepared administrators if they have to perform them manually. The high number of demands can transcend them and lead to mistakes. Effectively this can be avoided with DHCP.
The process of configuring, modifying, and upgrading is pretty simple. The settings are going to be saved and propagate for everything to operate without any difficulties.
How does it work?
the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol process has four main stages:
1. Discover. The client of the DHCP is going to distribute a message. This message includes information that it is on the network and that it requires an IP address.
2. Suggestion. The DHCP server receives the discover message from the client. It is going to proceed with suggesting an available IP address from the IP pool that this DHCP manages.
3. Request. The client is going to get the DHCP offer for an IP address and also has to accept it. As the next step, the client sends a request to accept the given IP address back to the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server.
4. Confirmation. The DHCP server receives the request. So it records it with details like, what IP address was given, to which MAC, and for how long. Then, it is going to confirm it and send the full network data required, such as DNS server, subnet mask, gateway, etc.