Deploying DHCP

Updated: March 28, 2003

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003
with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) in the Microsoft® Windows®

Server 2003 family of operating systems enables centralized automatic management of IP
addresses and other TCP/IP settings for network clients. You can reduce administrative
overhead in your organization by designing and implementing a reliable and scalable
DHCP solution.

In This Chapter
Overview of DHCP Deployment

Creating Your DHCP Server Design

Integrating DHCP with Other Services

Defining Scopes

Implementing Your DHCP Solution

Example DHCP Implementation

Additional Resources for Deploying DHCP

Related Information
 For more information about Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), see
the Networking Collection of the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference (or
see the Networking Collection on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/reskit).

 For more information about integrating DHCP with Domain Name System
(DNS), see "Deploying Domain Name System (DNS)" in this book.
 For more information about integrating DHCP with Windows Internet Name
Service (WINS), see "Deploying WINS" in this book.

Overview of DHCP Deployment

Updated: March 28, 2003

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003
with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Valid IP addresses and other network options must be configured for all computers and
other devices on the network, such as printers, in a corporate network. Manually
configuring this information is a time-consuming process that adds significant costs to an
organization and is susceptible to user error.

Windows Server 2003 Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) reduces the

complexity and administrative overhead involved in managing network client IP
addressing and configuration. DHCP allows you to assign IP addresses to network clients
automatically and dynamically, as needed, and to automate, centralize, and simplify IP
address and option configuration and distribution across your network. This protects
against common configuration errors that occur when values are entered manually at each
computer and helps to prevent address conflicts.

By using DHCP options, you can configure DHCP servers to supply a full range of
configuration values when assigning a DHCP lease, allowing you to configure a large
number of computers at one time, and to change configuration as necessary.

Different types of organizations can benefit from the automation and centralization that
Windows Server 2003 DHCP provides, including:

 Organizations in which administrators are responsible for configuring IP

addresses and options for a large number of devices.

 Organizations that include a large population of mobile users or network

configurations that frequently change.
 Organizations that already use versions of DHCP earlier than Microsoft®
Windows® 2000, which can benefit from the added functionality of Windows
Server 2003 DHCP by upgrading their DHCP deployment.

If you are deploying DHCP in a new Windows Server 2003 environment, begin your
deployment process by creating a design for your DHCP servers. When you have
completed all of the design steps for your DHCP infrastructure, you can implement your
DHCP solution by configuring your DHCP servers. If you are upgrading your existing
DHCP infrastructure to Windows Server 2003, begin by reviewing your current DHCP
design and modifying it if required, and then migrate your existing DHCP databases.

Creating Your DHCP Server Design

Updated: March 28, 2003

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003
with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

It is important to create a DHCP server design that meets the needs of your organization
in terms of functionality, availability, interoperability, and total cost of ownership (TCO).

Figure 2.2 shows the process for creating a DHCP server design.

Figure 2.2   Designing Your DHCP Server

Integrating DHCP with Other Services

Updated: March 28, 2003

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003
with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

If you use DHCP servers for Microsoft network clients, you must use a name resolution
service. Networks that support clients running Windows 2000, Microsoft®
Windows® XP Professional, and Windows Server 2003 use the DNS service to support
name resolution. Networks that support clients running versions of the operating system
earlier than Windows 2000 must use a form of NetBIOS name resolution, such as WINS.
Networks that support both types of clients must implement both WINS and DNS
servers.

Windows Server 2003 DHCP provides support for both DNS dynamic updates and secure
DNS dynamic updates. DHCP and DNS work together to perform dynamic updates and
work with Active Directory to perform secure DNS dynamic updates. DHCP also works
with Active Directory to prevent unauthorized DHCP servers from running on the
network.

Figure 2.6 shows the process for integrating DHCP with other services.

Figure 2.6   Integrating DHCP with Other Services

Defining Scopes

Updated: March 28, 2003

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003
with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Before DHCP clients can use a DHCP server for dynamic TCP/IP configuration, you
must define and activate scopes for your DHCP clients. A scope is the full, consecutive
range of possible IP addresses for a subnet. The IP addresses in a scope define a single
subnet on which DHCP services are offered. DHCP servers use scopes to manage
network IP address distribution and the configuration of DHCP options.

Figure 2.7 shows the process for defining scopes.

Figure 2.7   Defining Scopes

Implementing Your DHCP Solution

Updated: March 28, 2003

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003
with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
After you have planned your DHCP solution and made the necessary configurations, you
must implement your new or updated DHCP solution in your production environment.
The DHCP implementation process involves the following steps:

 Configuring your DHCP clients.

 Migrating existing DHCP servers, if necessary.

 Testing your DHCP solution.

Figure 2.8 shows the process for implementing your DHCP solution.

Figure 2.8   Implementing Your DHCP Solution

Additional Resources for Deploying DHCP

Updated: March 28, 2003

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003
with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

These resources contain additional information and tools related to this chapter.

Related Information
  The Networking Collection of the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference (or
see the Networking Collection on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/reskit)
for more information about Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

 "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol" in the TCP/IP Core Networking Guide of

the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server Resource Kit.
 "Deploying Domain Name System (DNS)" in this book.
 "Deploying IPSec" in this book.
 "Designing an Authentication Strategy" in the Designing and Deploying
Directory and Security Services book of this kit for more information about using
a certification authority.
 DHCP for Windows 2000, by Neall Alcott, 2001, Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly &
Associates.
 RFC 1542: Clarifications and Extensions for the Bootstrap Protocol.
 RFC 2131: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
 RFC 2132: DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor Extensions.

Related Tools
 DHCPExim tool

For more information about DHCPExim, see the Resource Kit Tools link on the
Web Resources page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources.

 Netsh

For more information about Netsh, in Help and Support Center for Windows
Server 2003, click Tools, and then click Command-line reference A-Z.

Related Help Topics

For best results in identifying Help topics by title, in Help and Support Center, under the
Search box, click Set search options. Under Help Topics, select the Search in title
only checkbox.

 "Checklist: Installing a DHCP server" in Help and Support Center for Windows
Server 2003.

 "Checklist: Installing a DHCP Service resource" in Help and Support Center for
Windows Server 2003.
 "Checklist: Installing a MADCAP server" in Help and Support Center for
Windows Server 2003.
 "Cluster support for DHCP servers" in Help and Support Center for Windows
Server 2003.
 "Configure the DHCP Relay Agent" in Help and Support Center for Windows
Server 2003.
 "Netsh" and "Netsh commands for DHCP" in Help and Support Center for
Windows Server 2003.
 "Add dynamic BOOTP client support to a scope" in Help and Support Center for
Windows Server 2003.
 "Using Routing and Remote Access servers with DHCP" in Help and Support
Center for Windows Server 2003.