What is DHCP?

When studying Internet terminology, you canencounter the abbreviation DHCP. Consider what it is and what functions DHCP performs in the Internet. This abbreviation stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). DHCP is the network protocol by which the computer obtains information about IP addresses and other data in automatic mode.

The standard of this protocol was adopted in 1993. The current version is March 1997, which is described in REC 2131. The new version used in IPv6 is called DHCPy6 - it was created in July 2003 and defined in REC 3315.

How does DHCP work?

The DHCP protocol is built according to the scheme"client-server". Here, the network load or jobs are distributed between the vendors - the servers - and the customers - the customers. The server and the client are software, they communicate with each other through a computer network using the UDP protocols.

IP-addresses are distributed in three ways:

• Manual. The administrator maps a specific IP address to the hardware address of the individual client computer. Address information is stored on the central server, so it can be easily changed if necessary.
• Auto. IP addresses are distributed among computers in an arbitrary manner.
• Dynamic. Acts the same as automatic, but the address is issued for a specific period of use. After the expiry of the term the address again becomes free, the client needs to request a new one.

DHCP Options

In addition to the IP address, DHCP can represent otherAdditional parameters required for operation are DHCP options. Among them you can distinguish, for example, the subnet mask, the IP address of the router, the DNS server address, the domain name.

Implementing DHCP

Microsoft first launched a DHCP server on Windows NT 3.5 in 1994. With Windows 2000 Server, you can update DNS records dynamically in this server.

December 6, 1997 Internet Systems Consortium released ISC DHCP Server. In June 1999, version 2.0 was released, close to the standard.

At the moment, there are different implementations of this server for Windows as separate programs that perform DHCP functions.

You can find out the meaning of other unknown Internet terms from the articles in the Concepts and Definitions section.