DHCP for Windows 2000

DHCP Server in Windows 2000

DHCP Server, which comes with Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows 2000 Data Center Server, is a robust implementation compliant with RFCs 2131 and 2132 and includes many enhanced features. Although it is still fundamentally the same as the version of DHCP Server that shipped with Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000’s DHCP Server supports some new and advanced features, including the following:

Integration of DHCP and DNS

Domain Name System (DNS) provides host name to IP address resolution. DNS is typically a static database that requires an administrator to manually enter host names. A new version of DNS, Dynamic DNS (DDNS), is included with Windows 2000. DHCP has been integrated with DNS to allow DHCP clients to automatically register their host names with the DNS database, thus alleviating the administrative burden of manually updating DNS.

Multicast address allocation

DHCP Server in Windows 2000 now includes the ability to assign multicast addresses as well as unicast addresses. A multicast address is shared by a group of computers. Typical applications include audio and conferencing where the entire multicast group receives the multicast messages. By allowing DHCP to administer multicast addresses, a user can simply join a multicast group, such as a conference room, and participate in a multicast session.

Rogue DHCP server detection

Windows 2000’s DHCP Server now includes a feature that detects and shuts down rogue DHCP servers ...