Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a client/server protocol that automatically

provides an Internet Protocol (IP) host with its IP address and other related configuration
information such as the subnet mask and default gateway. RFCs 2131 and 2132 define DHCP as
an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard based on Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP), a
protocol with which DHCP shares many implementation details. DHCP allows hosts to obtain
required TCP/IP configuration information from a DHCP server. The server offers and delivers IP
configurations. Clients request and acquire their IP configurations. It works on all types of
networks. You can use DHCP in your home network or can use it in your office or business
network.
The network administrator establishes DHCP servers that maintain TCP/IP configuration
information and provide address configuration to DHCP-enabled clients in the form of a lease
offer. The DHCP server stores the configuration information in a database that includes:
✓ Valid TCP/IP configuration parameters for all clients on the network.
✓ Valid IP addresses, maintained in a pool for assignment to clients, as well as excluded
addresses.
✓ Reserved IP addresses associated with particular DHCP clients. This allows consistent
assignment of a single IP address to a single DHCP client.
✓ The lease duration, or the length of time for which the IP address can be used before a
lease renewal is required.
A DHCP-enabled client, upon accepting a lease offer, receives:
✓ A valid IP address for the subnet to which it is connecting.
✓ Requested DHCP options, which are additional parameters that a DHCP server is
configured to assign to clients. Some examples of DHCP options are Router (default
gateway), DNS Servers, and DNS Domain Name.
Components of DHCP: Several important components work together to ensure smooth
operation:
✓ DHCP Server: The server device is in charge of answering an IP address request,
providing an available IP address, storing it for the time of the lease and renewing it later.
It will handle the communication with all the client devices. The server could be a
computer or a part of the router.
✓ DHCP Client: It must be present on the client devices (computer, mobile, IoT device,
etc.). It will request an IP address and communicate with the DHCP server to get it with
the rest of the data and confirm the process.
✓ DHCP Scope: This is the range of IP addresses that the DHCP server can offer to the
DHCP clients. Usually, the server will auto-assign addresses, starting from the smallest
number, and going to the highest.
✓ Subnet: If the network is divided into pieces, there will be so-called subnets.
✓ Lease: That is the time period that indicates how long a client can use the assigned IP
address before it expires.
✓ DHCP Relay: The relay is in charge of communication between the DHCP server and the
client. It will listen for messages and pass them to the right place.
How DHCP works Explained with Examples:
When a host (DHCP client) needs an IP configuration, it connects to a DHCP server and requests
an IP configuration. A DHCP server contains several pre-configured IP configurations. When it
receives a DHCP request from a DHCP client, it provides an IP configuration to the client from all
available IP configurations. This process goes through four steps: Discover, Offer, Request,
and Acknowledgment. The following image shows all four steps of a DHCP communication.

Imagine we have a network of connected devices and a DHCP server that manages the IP
addresses.
Step 1: DHCP Discover - When you connect a new device, it still does not have an IP
address. It will search for an IP address. It will call over the network for a DHCP server. This
request will arrive to all of the devices, and the server will also get it.
Step 2 DHCP Offer - The DHCP hears the call, and answers with an IP address, which it
offers to the newly connected device.
Step 3 DHCP Request - The IP address arrives at the device. The device will accept it and
will send a request to use it.
Step 4 DHCP Pack - The server gets the accepting message from the device. It will provide
the IP address to the device, together with the subnet mask and the DNS server. It will write
a record with the information of the newly connected device that usually includes the MAC
address of the connected device, the IP address that was assigned, and the expiration date of
that IP address. The DHCP leases the IP address for a limited time only. After the time passes,
the IP address will go back to the IP pool of available IP addresses and can be assigned to a
new device again.
DHCP Configuration Parameters and Settings Explained
A DHCP server configuration includes many parameters and settings. This tutorial explains the
parameters and settings you need to configure a DHCP server on Cisco switches and routers.
To configure a Cisco router or switch as a DHCP server, you have to create and configure a DHCP
pool on it. A DHCP pool is a collection of IP configurations you want to assign to DHCP clients.
Each IP configuration contains a unique IP address and network settings and addresses such as
the default gateway IP, DNS servers' IP addresses, and TFTP server's IP addresses.
IP range (subnet or scope): This is a range of IP addresses that we want to assign to clients.
In each range, the first address and the last address have special meanings. The first address is
known as the network ID (or address). The last address is known as the local broadcast ID (or
address).
DHCP clients use the network address and broadcast address to request an IP configuration from
DHCP servers, while the DHCP servers use the same addresses to offer the IP configuration to
the DHCP clients. To learn how this process work in detail, please check the second part of this
tutorial.
To define a range, we use the network ID and the subnet mask. For example, to define a range
of IP addresses from 192.168.1.0 to 192.168.1.255, we would set the network ID to
192.168.1.0 and the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0.
The network ID 192.168.1.0 and the subnet mask 255.255.255.0 represent a range of IP
addresses from 192.168.1.0 to 192.168.1.255. In this range, the network address is 192.168.1.0
and the local broadcast address is 192.168.1.255.
DHCP servers do not lease the network ID and broadcast ID. Except the network ID and broadcast
ID, all addresses of the defined IP range can be leased to clients.
Reserved/excluded addresses: If you don't want to assign a few addresses from the range,
you can configure them as excluded addresses. DHCP servers do not assign the excluded
addresses. This feature allows us to configure static IP addresses on critical network resources
such as servers, printers, and routers.
The default gateway IP address: If a local host wants to send a data packet to a host that
is not available in the local network, it sends the data packet to the default gateway. This
option allows us to set a default gateway IP address for hosts. Typically, this is the IP address
of the router's interface that is directly connected to the local network.
DNS server IP addresses: DNS servers allow hosts to access network resources by using
their names instead of their IP addresses. If a DNS server is configured, you can set its IP
address in this option. If you have more than one DNS server, you can configure all of them on
hosts through this option.
TFTP server IP address: A TFTP server allows hosts to download or store files. If a TFTP
server is available in the network, you can use this option to provide the IP address of the TFTP
server to all hosts.
Lease duration: The lease duration defines the validity of the IP configuration. A DHCP client
can use the assigned IP configuration until its validity expires. Once the validity period is expired,
the client needs to obtain a new IP configuration from the server. By default, an IP configuration
remains valid for 24 hours. Depending on your requirement, you can increase or decrease it.
DHCP Address Allocation Methods:
To provide an IP configuration, a DHCP server can use three mechanisms. These mechanisms
are the following.
Static Allocation: In this method, the administrator configures an allocation table on the
DHCP server. In this table, the administrator adds the MAC addresses of all clients and assigns
an IP configuration to each client.
The DHCP server uses this table to provide IP configurations. When a client requests an IP
configuration, the DHCP server finds the client's MAC address in the table. If it finds an entry
for the client, it provides the IP configuration to the client.

Dynamic Allocation: In this method, the administrator configures a range of IP addresses

on the DHCP server. The DHCP server assigns an IP configuration from the configured range
to each client that requests an IP configuration.
In this method, DHCP offers the IP configuration only for a specific time, known as the lease.
The IP configuration remains valid until the lease duration is over. Once the lease duration is
over, the client is required to obtain a new IP configuration from the server again.
Automatic Allocation: This method is similar to the dynamic method. In this method, the
administrator configures a range of IP addresses on the DHCP server, and the DHCP server
assigns an IP configuration from the configured range to each client that requests an IP
configuration.
In this method, the DHCP server assigns the IP configuration permanently. For this, the DHCP
server sets the lease duration to infinite. As a result, once the DHCP server chooses an IP
configuration from the pool and assigns the IP configuration to a client, the IP configuration
remains with that same client indefinitely.
DHCP Lease Duration Times
In the world of networking, DHCP lease duration is a crucial concept. It simply refers to how long
a device can use an IP address assigned by a DHCP server without needing to renew it. Here’s
the key terminology:
 Lease allocation: When a device joins a network, the DHCP server grants it an IP address
for a specified time (the lease duration).
Lease renewal: As the lease period nears its end, the device can either renew the lease or
let it expire.
Importance: Lease duration impacts IP address management and network stability. Short
leases are suitable for dynamic networks, while longer ones provide stability.
Configuration: Network administrators can adjust lease durations to suit their network’s
needs, balancing IP address management and network stability.
LAB Configuration Topology – 1:

Step – 1: Setup Router Interface IP Address

Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address 10.10.10.1 255.0.0.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1
Router(config-if)#ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface Ethernet 0/0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address 172.16.10.1 255.255.0.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#exit
Router#wr
Step – 2: Create DHCP Pool in Network Router
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#ip dhcp pool Network-1
Router(dhcp-config)#network 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0
Router(dhcp-config)#default-router 10.10.10.1
Router(dhcp-config)#dns-server 192.168.10.100
Router(dhcp-config)#exit
Router(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 10.0.0.1 10.0.0.10
Router(config)#ip dhcp pool Network-2
Router(dhcp-config)#network 172.16.0.0 255.255.0.0
Router(dhcp-config)#default-router 172.16.10.1
Router(dhcp-config)#dns-server 192.168.10.100
Router(dhcp-config)#exit
Router(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 172.16.0.1 172.16.0.15
Router(config)#ip dhcp pool Network-3
Router(dhcp-config)#network 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0
Router(dhcp-config)#default-router 192.168.10.1
Router(dhcp-config)#dns-server 192.168.10.100
Router(dhcp-config)#exit
Router(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 192.168.10.2 192.168.10.10
Router(config)#exit
Router#wr
Step – 3: Request from Host PC for DHCP Address
After configure all step, now go to Host PC for IP Configuration. Then select the DHCP.
N.B: Above figure we can see that Host A1, B1 and C1 get DHCP IP address as per our
requirements and configuration.
Step – 4: Check the Assign IP Address and DHCP Pool from Network Router
Router#show ip dhcp pool

Router#show ip dhcp binding

LAB Configuration Topology – 2:

Step – 1: Setup Router Interface IP Address

Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address 10.10.10.1 255.0.0.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1
Router(config-if)#ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface Ethernet 0/0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address 172.16.10.1 255.255.0.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#exit
Router#wr
Step – 2: Setup DHCP Server
Go to DHCP server, Assign DHCP Server Address Statically.
Then go to Services option select the DHCP
Then create DHCP Pool as per your requirements.

Then go to Network Host End for IP Configuration select the DHCP.

But in Network 1 & 2 Hosts cannot get DHCP IP address as per your configuration. At
this time show a message DHCP Failed and API IP assigned.
To Overcome this problem, we need to configure in our network router IP DCHP
helper command show the below
Step – 3: Configure Router Helper-Address
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#ip helper-address 192.168.10.100
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface Ethernet 0/0/0
Router(config-if)#ip helper-address 192.168.10.100
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#exit
Router#wr
Now check from other network Host
DHCP Relay Agents:
DHCP clients use local broadcast messages to obtain IP addresses from the DHCP server. By
default, routers do not forward local broadcast messages. This means, if the DHCP server is
configured on another network or a router is configured between the DHCP server and DHCP
clients, the DHCP clients will not receive IP addresses from the DHCP server.
In such a situation, a network administrator has two choices either configure a DHCP server in
each subnet or configure the router as a DHCP relay agent that connect the subnet to the DHCP
server. A DHCP relay agent sits between a DHCP server and DHCP clients and allows the DHCP
clients to obtain IP addresses from the DHCP server that is not configured on the same LAN.
In this session, we will understand how configure Cisco routers as DHCP relay agents trough a
packet tracer example.
LAB Configuration Topology – 3:

Task-1. Configure the following DHCP Pool on Router 2

Pool-1: 192.168.10.0/24 (Reserve: 1 to 10)
DNS: 8.8.8.8
Domain: csl.com
Default Gateway: Router 1
Pool-2: 192.168.20.0/24 (Reserve: 1 to 10)
DNS: 8.8.8.8
Domain: csl.com
Default Gateway: Router 2
Pool-3: 200.100.10.0/30 (Reserve: 1)
Task-2. Configure Router 1 GigabitEthernet0/0 interface as a DHCP client.
What IP address did it configure?
Task-3. Configure Router 1 as a DHCP relay agent for the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet
Task-4 Use the CLI of PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4 to make them request an IP address
from their DHCP Server.
Task – 1:
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 192.168.10.1 192.168.10.10
Router(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 192.168.20.1 192.168.20.10
Router(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 200.100.10.1
Router(config)#ip dhcp pool Pool-1
Router(dhcp-config)#network 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0
Router(dhcp-config)#dns-server 8.8.8.8
Router(dhcp-config)#domain-name csl.com
Router(dhcp-config)#default-router 192.168.10.1
Router(dhcp-config)#exit
Router(config)#ip dhcp pool Pool-2
Router(dhcp-config)#network 192.168.20.0 255.255.255.0
Router(dhcp-config)#dns-server 8.8.8.8
Router(dhcp-config)#domain-name csl.com
Router(dhcp-config)#default-router 192.168.20.1
Router(dhcp-config)#exit
Router(config)#ip dhcp pool Pool-3
Router(dhcp-config)#network 200.100.10.0 255.255.255.254
Router(dhcp-config)#exit
Router(config)#do show run | section dhcp
Task – 2:
Router – 2 Configuration
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface GigabitEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address 192.168.20.1 255.255.255.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface GigabitEthernet 0/1
Router(config-if)#ip address 200.100.10.1 255.255.255.252
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#exit
Router#wr
Router – 1 Configuration
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface GigabitEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address dhcp
Router(config-if)#no shutdown

Task – 3:
Router – 1 Configuration
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface GigabitEthernet 0/1
Router(config-if)#ip add 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config)#int g0/1
Router(config-if)#ip helper-address 200.100.10.1
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 200.100.10.1
Router(config)#exit
Router#wr
 Router – 2 Configuration
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 200.100.10.2
Router(config)#exit
Router#wr
Task – 4:
Now, go to Host PC (1, 2, 3 and 4), Command Prompt > write the following command
C:\>ipconfig /renew
DHCP configuration on Cisco switches
In a small network, a Cisco switch and a generic wireless access point are used to provide
connectivity between hosts. Wired hosts are directly connected to the switch. Wireless hosts are
connected to the access point and the access point is connected to the switch. The following
image shows this network.
Configure the switch to act as the DHCP server:

Switch>enable
Switch#configure terminal
Switch(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.10
Switch(config)#ip dhcp pool VLAN-N-1
Switch(dhcp-config)#network 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0
Switch(dhcp-config)#default-router 192.168.1.1
Switch(dhcp-config)#dns-server 8.8.8.8
Switch(dhcp-config)#exit
Switch(config)#interface vlan 1
Switch(config-if)#ip address 192.168.1.5 255.255.255.0
Switch(config-if)#no shutdown
Switch(config-if)#exit
Switch(config)#exit
Switch#wr
Configuring DHCP clients
To configure a host as a DHCP client, change the host's IP configuration option to DHCP. For this,
click the device and click the Desktop option and click the IP configuration and select the DHCP
option.
You can also use the 'ipconfig' command to view the IP address. To use the 'ipconfig'
command, select the command prompt of the device and run this command.
Configure DHCP Server for multiple VLANs on the Switch

Configure this lab to meet the following objectives.

1. Create three VLANs and add 3 PCs to each VLAN.
2. Configure the DHCP server on the switch and create three DHCP pools.
3. Assign a DHCP pool to each VLAN.
4. Configure all PCs as DHCP clients.
5. Verify that all PCs receive their IP configuration from the DHCP server.
6. Test connectivity between all PCs.
Step – 1: Creating and assigning VLANs
Switch>enable
Switch#configure terminal
Switch(config)#vlan 10
Switch(config-vlan)#name IT
Switch(config-vlan)#exit
Switch(config)#vlan 15
Switch(config-vlan)#name Admin
Switch(config-vlan)#exit
Switch(config)#vlan 20
Switch(config-vlan)#name HR
Switch(config-vlan)#exit
 Switch(config)#interface range fastEthernet 0/5-7
Switch(config-if-range)#switchport access vlan 10
Switch(config-if-range)#exit
Switch(config)#interface range fastEthernet 0/10-12
Switch(config-if-range)#switchport access vlan 15
Switch(config-if-range)#exit
Switch(config)#interface range fastEthernet 0/15-17
Switch(config-if-range)#switchport access vlan 20
Switch(config-if-range)#exit
Switch(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1
Switch(config-if)#switchport mode trunk
Switch(config-if)#exit
Switch(config)#exit
Switch#wr
Step – 2: Configuring DHCP server and creating DHCP pools
Switch>enable
Switch#configure terminal
Switch(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 100.0.0.1 100.0.0.10
Switch(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 172.16.0.1 172.16.0.10
Switch(config)#ip dhcp excluded-address 192.168.10.1 192.168.10.10
Switch(config)#ip dhcp pool vlan10pool
Switch(dhcp-config)#network 100.0.0.0 255.0.0.0
Switch(dhcp-config)#default-router 100.10.10.1
Switch(dhcp-config)#dns-server 8.8.8.8
Switch(dhcp-config)#domain-name csl.com
Switch(dhcp-config)#exit
Switch(config)#ip dhcp pool vlan15pool
Switch(dhcp-config)#network 172.16.0.0 255.255.0.0
Switch(dhcp-config)#default-router 172.16.10.1
Switch(dhcp-config)#dns-server 8.8.8.8
Switch(dhcp-config)#domain-name csl.com
Switch(dhcp-config)#exit
Switch(config)#ip dhcp pool vlan20pool
Switch(dhcp-config)#network 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0
Switch(dhcp-config)#default-router 192.168.10.1
Switch(dhcp-config)#dns-server 8.8.8.8
Switch(dhcp-config)#domain-name csl.com
Switch(dhcp-config)#exit
Switch(config)#exit
Switch#wr
Step – 3: Assigning IP addresses to VLANs
Switch>enable
Switch#configure terminal
Switch(config)#interface vlan 10
Switch(config-if)#ip address 100.10.10.5 255.0.0.0
Switch(config-if)#exit
Switch(config)#interface vlan 15
Switch(config-if)#ip address 172.16.10.5 255.255.0.0
Switch(config-if)#exit
Switch(config)#interface vlan 20
Switch(config-if)#ip address 192.168.10.5 255.255.255.0
Switch(config-if)#exit
Switch(config)#exit
Switch#wr
Step – 4: Configuring the Router's Interface
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1.10
Router(config-subif)#encapsulation dot1Q 10
Router(config-subif)#ip address 100.10.10.1 255.0.0.0
Router(config-subif)#exit
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1.15
Router(config-subif)#encapsulation dot1Q 15
Router(config-subif)#ip address 172.16.10.1 255.255.0.0
Router(config-subif)#exit
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1.20
Router(config-subif)#encapsulation dot1Q 20
Router(config-subif)#ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
Router(config-subif)#exit
Router(config)#exit
Router#wr
Step – 5: Configuring and verifying DHCP clients
To configure a host as the DHCP client, click the host and click the Desktop menu option and click
the IP configuration option and choose the DHCP option. If the DHCP server is properly
configured, the DHCP client will receive the IP configuration in a few seconds.
 Q/A
Q1. What is the correct order of messages when a DHCP client gets an IP address
from a server?
a. Request – Discover – Offer – Ack
b. Discover – Offer – Request – Ack
c. Discover – Ack – Request – Offer
d. Offer – Request – Discover – Ack
Q2. Which of the following Windows command prompt commands will cause a PC to
broadcast a DHCP Discover message?
a. ipconfig /dhcp
b. ipconfig /dhcpdiscover
c. ipconfig /release
d. ipconfig /renew
Q3. What is the default lease time for a DHCP binding?
a. 24 hours
b. 12 hours
c. 48 hours
d. 36 hours
Q4. Which statement is correct regarding the operation of DHCP?
a. A DHCP client uses a gratuitous ARP to detect a DHCP server.
b. If an address conflict is detected, the address is removed from the pool and an
administrator must resolve the conflict.
c. If an address conflict is detected, the address is removed from the pool for an amount of
time configurable by the administrator.
d. If an address conflict is detected, the address is removed from the pool and will not be
reused until the server is rebooted.
Q5. Requirement to configure DHCP binding (Choose two)
a. DHCP pool
b. IP address
c. Hardware address
d. Other option
Q6. Refer to the exhibit.
ip dhcp pool test
network 192.168.10.0/27
domain name cisco.com
dns-server 172.16.1.1 172.16.2.1
netbios-name-server 172.16.1.10 172.16.2.10
After you apply the given configuration to a router, the DHCP clients behind the device
cannot communicate with hosts outside of their subnet. Which action is most likely
to correct the problem?
 a. Configure the DNS server on the same subnet as the clients
b. Activate the dhcp pool
c. Correct the subnet mask
d. Configure the default gateway
Q7. Refer to the exhibit.

Which rule does the DHCP server use when there is an IP address conflict?

a. The address is removed from the pool until the conflict is resolved.
b. The address remains in the pool until the conflict is resolved.
c. Only the IP detected by Gratuitous ARP is removed from the pool.
d. Only the IP detected by Ping is removed from the pool.
e. The IP will be shown, even after the conflict is resolved.

Q8. Refer to the exhibit.

The network administrator can see the DHCP discovery packet in R1, but R2 is not replying to the
DHCP request. The R1 related interface is configured with the DHCP helper address. If the PC is
directly connected to the Fa0/1 interface on R2, the DHCP server assigns as IP address from the
DHCP pool to the PC.
Which two commands resolve this issue? (Choose two.)
a. service dhcp-relay command on R1
b. ip dhcp relay information enable command on R1
c. ip dhcp option 82 command on R2
d. service dhcp command on R1
e. ip dhcp relay information trust-all command on R2
Q9. Order the DHCP process steps. (Not all options are used.)