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9.3 | |
Obtaining an IP address | |
| 9.3.5 | |
DHCP IP address management |
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Dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)
is the successor to BOOTP. Unlike BOOTP, DHCP allows a host to obtain
an IP address dynamically without the network administrator having to
set up an individual profile for each device. All that is required
when using DHCP is a defined range of IP addresses on a DHCP server.
As hosts come online, they contact the DHCP server and request an
address. The DHCP server chooses an address and leases it to that
host. With DHCP, the entire network configuration of a computer can be
obtained in one message. This includes all of the data supplied by the BOOTP message, plus a
leased IP address and a subnet mask.
The major advantage that DHCP has over BOOTP is that it allows users to be mobile. This mobility allows the users to freely change network connections from location to location. It is no longer required to keep a fixed profile for every device attached to the network as was required with the BOOTP system. The importance to this DHCP advancement is its ability to lease an IP address to a device and then reclaim that IP address for another user after the first user releases it. This means that DHCP offers a one to many ratio of IP addresses and that an address is available to anyone who connects to the network.
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