DHCP servers automatically assign various network settings to computers, including IP addresses, default gateways, primary and secondary DNS servers, primary and secondary WINS servers, and other parameters. When using dynamic addressing, a computer is assigned an IP address lease for a specific period of time, and this lease must be renewed periodically. When the lease expires, the computer contacts the DHCP server that issued it. If the server is available, the lease is renewed and a new expiration date is set. If necessary, the lease can be renewed manually on individual computers or through the DHCP server itself.
Problems can arise during lease assignment or renewal, which disrupts the network connection. If the server is unavailable and the lease expires, the IP address may become invalid. In this case, the computer may use an alternative IP configuration, which is often incorrect and interferes with normal network operation. To resolve this issue, you must first release and then renew the DHCP lease.
Another type of problem occurs when users move between different offices and subnets. In such cases, computers may receive settings from the wrong server. After returning to their workplace, the system may run slowly or incorrectly due to the settings assigned by the server in another location. In this situation, you also need to release and renew the DHCP lease.
You can use the Windows graphical interface to perform these actions. To do this, open the Network and Sharing Center, go to Network Connections, select the desired connection, run diagnostics, and accept the offer to automatically obtain new IP settings if your computer uses dynamically assigned IP addresses.
Alternatively, you can use the IPCONFIG command in the command prompt with administrator rights. With its help, you can release the current settings of all network adapters, renew the DHCP lease for all connections or for individual adapters, and view the current network parameters. If your computer has multiple network adapters, you can work with a specific connection by specifying part of its name, using a wildcard to select multiple connections that match the specified pattern.
