Working with a DHCP Server

The exact steps that you should follow when configuring and managing a DHCP server depend on the network operating system that you're using. The following procedures show you how to work with a DHCP server in Windows Server 2003. The procedures for other operating systems are similar.

Installing and configuring a DHCP server

To install the DHCP server role on Windows Server 2003, follow these steps:

1. Choose Start →Administrative Tools → Manage Your Server.
   The Manage Your Server application appears.
2. Click the Add or Remove a Role link. The Configure Your Server Wizard appears.
3. Select DHCP Server from the list of roles and then click Next. The Configure Your Server Wizard lists the changes it is about to make.
4. Click Next.
   The Wizard calls up the Windows Setup program to install the DHCP server components. This can take a few minutes, so be patient. When the components are installed, the Windows Setup program automatically ends and is replaced by the New Scope Wizard dialog box. The New Scope Wizard guides you through the process of creating the first scope for the DHCP server.
5. Click the Next button. The wizard asks for a name and description for the new scope.
6. Type the name and description for the scope.
   The name can be anything you want. Use a generic name such as "Office" or your company name unless you're creating two or more scopes. Then, the names should indicate the function of each scope.
7. Click Next.
   The wizard asks for the scope range.
8. Enter the start and end IP address and the subnet mask.
   You can enter the subnet mask by either selecting its length from the Length spin button or by entering the complete subnet mask into the Subnet Mask text box. In this example, entered the range 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.254, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
9. Click Next.
   The next screen of the wizard lets you create exclusions.
10. Enter each exclusion by entering the start and end IP address and then clicking Add.
11. Click Next.
    Next, the wizard asks for the lease duration.
12. Use the spin boxes to specify the lease duration.
    The default setting is eight days. For more information about how to choose an appropriate lease duration, refer to the section, "How long to lease?" earlier in this tutorial.
13. Click Next.
    The wizard asks whether you want to configure the DHCP options now or later.
14. Check Yes and then click Next.
    The wizard asks for the IP address of the router.
15. Enter the router's IP address, click Add, and then click Next.
    Next, the wizard asks for the DNS configuration information.
16. Enter the domain name and DNS servers.
    To enter a DNS server, type its address in the IP address text box and click Add. You typically have more than one DNS server.
17. Click Next.
    The wizard next asks for the WINS configuration information.
18. Enter the WINS server configuration and then click Next.
    To specify a WINS server, enter the server's IP address and click Add. You can add multiple IP addresses if your network has more than one WINS server.
    When you click Next, the wizard displays a screen asking whether you want to activate the scope now or later.
19. Choose Yes or No to activate the scope now or wait until later and then click Next.
    If you need to do some more configuration work before the DHCP server is ready to go live, choose No here. For example, if you need to first configure another scope, choose No. Otherwise, choose Yes to activate the scope as soon as the wizard finishes.
    When you click Next, a final screen appears, congratulating you on your hard work.
20. Click Finish to close the New Scope Wizard.
    You're returned to the Configure Your Server Wizard, with a message that indicates the server has been configured for DHCP.
21. Click Finish to close the Configure Your Server Wizard.
    You're returned to the Manage Your Server application.