A DHCP Server assigns IP addresses to client computers. This is very often used in enterprise networks to reduce configuration efforts. All IP addresses of all computers are stored in a database that resides on a server machine. For more information on DHCP, see the following guides on how to automatic IP Assignment: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), see “how does Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol work” and how to install the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol on Windows Server 2019. see “how to install Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol on Windows Server 2019“.
As you can see below, merely installing the DHCP role does not complete the DHCP configuration. Also as you can see on the Server, “DHCP” as one of the options on the left pane of the window.
Step 1: DHCP Post Installation: From the notification icon as shown above.
– Click on complete DHCP configuration.
– This will open the open the DHCP Post-Install Wizard as shown below
On this page of the Wizard, you are presented with three options. You can proceed with the Administrator’s credentials, an alternate user’s credentials and also AD Authorization. If your server is standalone and is not in any Active Directory Domain, then choose “Skip AD authorization” radio.
Note: Choose Skip AD authorisation if your server is on workgroup.
In my case, it is not on a workgroup but rather in a domain environment.
I will select the default as the DHCP server is part of the Domain.
– Click on Commit.
Next, navigate back to Server Manager,
– Click on Tools and
– Select DHCP.
This will open DHCP Configuration Window as shown below
Alternatively, the DHCP Manager can be launched in the following ways.
– Click on the “DHCP” server
– Under the servers, right click and select “DHCP Manager”.
This will open DHCP Configuration Window as shown below
Step 2: Scopes Creation and Configuration.
– On the left pane of the window, expand the drop-down as shown above.
– Right-click on “IPv4” then choose “New Scope“.
A new scope wizard window will pop-up as shown below.
– Click “Next“
On the “New Scope Wizard”, click on Next
Enter a “Scope Name” and “description” as shown below
Input your start IP Address and end Address as shown below, Length and Subnet Mask and then click on “Next” as shown below
On the “Add Exclusion and Delay Page”, you can reserve some IPs’ in the range server that will require static IP addresses such a printer, routers etc.
– Note: You can set the delays in milli seconds.
Lease duration is the time the DHCP Server will give a specific computer or client an IP before changing it or giving it another IP address when the server connects to the network again.
– I have set mine to 24 days, you can set yours to a specific duration.
– Click on Next.
On this page, click “Next” in order to configure the DHCP Options as shown below
Enter the Default Gateway of the Subnet as shown below. Enter the right Default Gateway address that the clients will be assigned during lease time. – Click Add and
– Click on Next as shown below
Enter the DNS information: Most times, this information is automatically filled out in a domain environment.
– Note: DNS is very vital because it helps in resolving FQDN to IP Address. – – – Click on Next
WINS Server: This step is Optional. If you would like to use WINS Server in your environment, then input the details in this step and
– Click on Next.
– For me, I will leave this blank and click on next.
Activate the scope: If you would like to activate the scope immediately,
– Select, “Yes, I want to activate the scope now“
– If you would wish to activate it later, choose the second radio option.
Now the scope creation is complete for the DHCP Server Configuration.
As we can see now from the DHCP Manager console, the scope is now active and the configs are present as it appears on the console as shown below.
Note: If you have segmented your LAN/Network into VLANS, simply create other scopes as shown above for those VLANS then configure your router to get IPs' from the DHCP Server accordingly.
I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment session. I welcome you to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
