4.1. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

The purpose of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is to provide TCP/IP configuration information to clients. Notice I didn't say the purpose of DHCP is to provide IP addresses. DHCP certainly does provide IP addresses, but it provides much more.

A DHCP server within a Windows Server 2008 domain will typically provide the following information to clients:

  • IP address

  • Subnet mask

  • Default gateway

  • DNS domain name

  • Address of DNS server

  • Address of WINS server

  • And possibly more

The DHCP server can provide 70 different TCP/IP options to clients. I won't cover them all in this chapter but will instead focus on what is most important within a Windows Server 2008 domain.

4.1.1. Overview

Before getting too far ...

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