Module 25: IP Addressing

Services
Networking Essentials 3.0
Module Objectives
Module Title: IP Addressing Services
Module Objective: Explain how DNS and DHCP services operate

Topic Title Topic Objective

DNS Services Explain how DNS operates

DHCP Services Explain how DHCP operates

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25.1 DNS Services

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DNS Services
Video - Domain Name System
• When we type in a domain name such as the URL, www.cisco.com, how does our client know the
IP address with that domain name?
• The answer lies in DNS, the domain name system.
• This video shows how DNS works.

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DNS Services
Domain Name System
• The design of other application layer-specific protocols is to make it easier to obtain addresses for
network devices.
• They are essential because it would be time-consuming to remember IP addresses instead of
URLs or manually configure all devices in a medium to a large network.
• In data networks, devices are labeled with numeric IP addresses to send and receive data.
• Domain names are created to convert the numeric address into a simple, recognizable name.
• If Cisco changes the numeric address of www.cisco.com, it is transparent to the user because the
domain name remains the same.
• The new address links to the existing domain name and maintains connectivity.
• The DNS protocol defines an automated service that matches resource names with the required
numeric network address, including the format for queries, responses, and data.
• The DNS protocol communications use a single format called a message. Its use is for all types of
client queries and server responses, error messages, and the transfer of resource record
information between servers.

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DNS Services
Domain Name System (Cont.)
Ste The user types an FQDN into a browser
p1 application Address field.

A fully qualified domain name (FQDN)

Ste The designated DNS server for the client

p2 computer receives a DNS query.

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DNS Services
Domain Name System (Cont.)
Ste The DNS server matches the FQDN with its IP
p3 address.

Ste The DNS query response is sent back to the

p4 client with the IP address for the FQDN.

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DNS Services
Domain Name System (Cont.)

Step The client computer uses the IP address to make

5 requests to the server.

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DNS Services
DNS Message Format
• The DNS server stores different types of resource records to resolve names.
• These records contain the name, address, and type of record.
• Some of these record types are as follows:

• A - An end device IPv4 address

• NS - An authoritative name server
• AAAA - An end device IPv6 address (pronounced quad-A)
• MX - A mail exchange record

• When a client queries, the server DNS process looks at its records to resolve the name.
• If it cannot resolve the name using its stored records, it contacts other servers to resolve the name.
• After a match is found and returned to the original requesting server, the server temporarily stores
the numbered address if the same name is requested again.
• The DNS client service on Windows PCs also stores previously resolved names in memory.
• The ipconfig /displaydns command displays all the cached DNS entries.

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DNS Services
DNS Message Format (Cont.)
• As shown in the table, DNS uses the same message format between servers, consisting of a
question, answer, authority, and additional information for all types of client queries and server
responses, error messages, and transfer of resource record information.

Question The question for the name server

Answer Resource Records answering the question
Authority Resource Records pointing toward an authority
Additional Resource Records holding additional information

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DNS Services
DNS Hierarchy
• The DNS protocol uses a hierarchical system to create a database
to provide name resolution, as shown in the figure.
• DNS uses domain names to form the hierarchy.
• The naming structure breaks down into small, manageable zones.
• Each DNS server maintains a specific database file and is only
responsible for managing name-to-IP mappings for that small
portion of the entire DNS structure.
• When a DNS server receives a request for a name translation that is
not within its DNS zone, the DNS server forwards the request to
another DNS server within the proper zone for translation.
• DNS is scalable because hostname resolution spreads across
multiple servers.
• The different top-level domains represent either the type of
organization or the country of origin.
• .com - a business or industry
• .org - a non-profit organization
• .au - Australia
• .co - Colombia
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DNS Services
The nslookup Command

• When configuring a network device, one or more DNS server addresses

provide the DNS client for name resolution.
• Usually, the ISP provides the addresses to use for the DNS servers.
• When a user application requests to connect to a remote device by
name, the requesting DNS client queries the name server to resolve the
name to a numeric address.
• Computer operating systems also have a utility called nslookup that
allows the user to manually query the name servers to resolve a given
host name.
• Using this utility can also troubleshoot name resolution issues and verify
the name servers' current status.
• In this figure, when the nslookup command is issued, the default DNS
server configured for your host is displayed.
• The host or domain name can be entered at the nslookup prompt.

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DNS Services
Lab - Observe DNS Resolution
In this lab, you will complete the following objectives:

• Part 1: Observe the DNS Conversion of a URL to an IP Address

• Part 2: Observe DNS Lookup Using the nslookup Command on a Web Site
• Part 3: Observe DNS Lookup Using the nslookup Command on Mail Servers

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25.2 DHCP Services

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DHCP Services
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

• The DHCP for IPv4 service automates the assignment of IPv4 addresses, subnet masks,
gateways, and other IPv4 networking parameters (dynamic addressing).
• The alternative to dynamic addressing is static addressing, where the network administrator
manually enters IP address information on hosts.
• When a host connects to the network, it contacts the DHCP server and requests an address.
• The DHCP server chooses an address from a configured range of addresses called a pool and
assigns (leases) it to the host.
• Rather than use static addressing for each connection, it is more efficient to have IPv4 addresses
assigned automatically using DHCP.
• DHCP can allocate IP addresses for a configurable period, called a lease period, which is an
important DHCP setting.
• When the lease period expires, or the DHCP server gets a DHCPRELEASE message, the address
returns to the DHCP pool for reuse.
• Users can freely move from location to location and quickly re-establish network connections
through DHCP.

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DHCP Services
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (Cont.)
• As the figure shows, various types of devices can be DHCP
servers.

• The DHCP server in most medium-to-large networks is usually

a local, dedicated PC-based server.

• With home networks, the location of the DHCP server is on the

local router that connects the home network to the ISP.

• Many networks use both DHCP and static addressing.

• The use of the DHCP is for general-purpose hosts, such as

end-user devices.

• The static addressing is for network devices, such as gateway routers, switches, servers, and printers.

• DHCPv6 provides similar services for IPv6 clients, but it does not provide a default gateway address.
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DHCP Services
Video - DHCP Operation in a Home Router

This video explains the DHCP operation in a Home Router.

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DHCP Services
DHCP Messages

• As shown in the figure, when an IPv4, DHCP-configured

device boots up or connects to the network, the client
broadcasts a DHCPDISCOVER message to identify any
available DHCP servers on the network.
• A DHCP server replies with a DHCPOFFER message, which
offers a lease to the client.
• The offer message contains the IPv4 address and subnet
mask to be assigned, the IPv4 address of the DNS server, and
the IPv4 address of the default gateway.
• The lease offer also includes the duration of the lease.
• The client may receive multiple DHCPOFFER messages if
there is more than one DHCP server on the local network.
• Therefore, it must choose between them and sends a
DHCPREQUEST message that identifies the explicit server
and leases offer that the client is accepting.

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DHCP Services
DHCP Messages (Cont.)
• A client may also request an address the server had previously allocated.
• If the IPv4 address requested by the client, or offered by the server, is still available, the server returns a
DHCPACK message to finalize the lease, which then acknowledges by the client.
• The selected server responds with a DHCPNAK message if the offer is no longer valid.
• If a DHCPNAK message returns, the selection process must begin again with the transmission of a new
DHCPDISCOVER message.
• After the client has the lease, it must renew before the lease expires through another DHCPREQUEST
message.
• The DHCP server ensures that all IP addresses are unique (the same IP address cannot be assigned to
two different network devices simultaneously).
• Most ISPs use DHCP to allocate addresses to their customers.
• DHCPv6 has a set of messages like those for DHCPv4.
• The DHCPv6 messages are SOLICIT, ADVERTISE, INFORMATION REQUEST, and REPLY.

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25.3 IP Addressing Services
Summary

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IP Addressing Services Summary
What Did I Learn in this Module?
• In data networks, devices are labeled with numeric IP addresses to send and receive data over networks.
• The creation of domain names is to convert the numeric address into a simple, recognizable name.
• The DNS protocol defines an automated service that matches resource names with the required numeric
network address.
• The DNS protocol communications use a single format called a message for all types of client queries and
server responses, error messages, and the transfer of resource record information between servers.
• The DNS server stores different types of resource records to resolve names.
• These records contain the name, address, and type of record.
• DNS uses domain names to form the hierarchy.
• The naming structure breaks down into zones.
• Each DNS server maintains a specific database file and is only responsible for managing name-to-IP
mappings for that small portion of the entire DNS structure.
• When a DNS server receives a request for a name translation that is not within its DNS zone, the DNS
server forwards the request to another DNS server within the proper zone for translation.
• DNS is scalable because hostname resolution spreads across multiple servers.
• Computer operating systems have a utility called nslookup that allows the user to manually query the
name servers to resolve a given host name.

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IP Addressing Services Summary
What Did I Learn in this Module? (Cont.)
• When the nslookup command is issued, the default DNS server configured for your host is displayed.
• The host or domain name can be entered at the nslookup prompt.
• Larger networks prefer DHCP for address assignment.
• It is more efficient to have IPv4 addresses assigned automatically using DHCP.
• DHCP can allocate IP addresses for a configurable period, called a lease period.
• When the lease period expires or the DHCP server gets a DHCPRELEASE message, the address returns to
the DHCP pool for reuse.
• Users can freely move from location to location and easily re-establish network connections through DHCP.
• DHCPv6 provides similar services for IPv6 clients, but it does not provide a default gateway address.
• When an IPv4, DHCP-configured device boots up or connects to the network, the client broadcasts a
DHCPDISCOVER message to identify any available DHCP servers on the network.
• A DHCP server replies with a DHCPOFFER message, which offers a lease to the client.
• The client sends a DHCPREQUEST message that identifies the explicit server and lease offer the client
accepts.
• If the IPv4 address requested by the client, or offered by the server, is still available, the server returns a
DHCPACK message that acknowledges to the client that the lease will finalize.
• The selected server responds with a DHCPNAK message if the offer is no longer valid.
• If a DHCPNAK message returns, the selection process must begin again with a new DHCPDISCOVER
message transmission.
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