Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol - Term Paper Example Advantages/ Benefits of DHCP 1. minimized IP Address configuration errors as is attributed with the manual IP address configurations to computers 2. Network administration tasks are reduced since the TCP/IP configurations are now centralized and automated, it’s easy to handle efficiently ip addresses for client machines whose IP addresses change frequently i.e. devise on wireless network. 3. There is no address duplication since there’s automatic assignment of IP addresses. Significance of DHCP All devices on a TCP/IP-based network are required to have unique IP addresses to help the computers access the network and share resources. Without using a DHCP, it means that IP addresses must be reconfigured anytime a computer is added or moved to a different subnet and similarly the IP addresses be reclaimed when a computer from the network. DHCP on the other hand comes in handy by automating the entire process as well as central management of the same. The DHCP protocol is c ontained in the DHCP server which holds a pool of IP addresses and leases the given IP addresses to client machines which join the network. It uses the concept of ‘lease’ or time length that a particular IP address remains valid. The DHCP is an extension of BOOTp protocol which is an earlier network IP management protocol. Implemeting a DHCP eliminates some of configuration problems associated with manually configured TCP/IP. Some of the parameters that are passed to a DHCP client include: The clients IP address A subnet mask Default gateway Domain Name Servers Network servers Time synchronization information. Manual TCP/IP addressing Configuration The limitations of configuring TCP/IP manually mean that: 1. It’s easy for users to pick a random IP address instead of getting a valid IP address. These incorrect IP addresses lead to network problems which become difficult to trace 2. Manually typing of IP addresses, subnet masks or default gateways leads to communic ation problems if the credentials are wrong. 3. There are administrative overheads on internetworks when computers are frequently changed between subnets. How DHCP works DHCP server offers an automated method for IP address distribution and updating on a given network. The server offers this information to the particular client through a series of message exchanges called DHCP conversations or DHCP transactions. For communication on different subnets, a DHCP relay agent is preferred to aid the conversation. DHCP Architecture A DHCP architecture consists of DHCP servers, DHCP clients and DHCP relay agents. The DHCP client is a network-enabled device that enables the communication with the DHCP server for the purpose of getting a dynamically leased IP address. DHCP is supported in the following operating systems: Windows NT version 4, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows server 2003, windows 98, windows ME. The DHCP Server is in charge of maintaining the scope, reservations as well as op tions as set by the given administrator. Configuring a DHCP client Normally the DHCP client TCP/IP software is never configured with a static IP address but instead configured to get/obtain the IP address dynamically from the DHCP server. The leasing process of TCP/IP configuration involves the following four steps: DHCPDISCOVER-the DHCP client will broadcast a DHCP discover message that contains its specific MAC address as well as the computer name in attempt to request for an IP address from