Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

(DHCP)
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is a network protocol used to automate the process of
assigning IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices (such as
computers, smart phones, and printers) on a network.

What is DHCP?
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is the critical feature on which the
users of an enterprise network communicate. DHCP helps enterprises to smoothly manage the
allocation of IP addresses to the end-user clients’ devices such as desktops, laptops, cell phones,
etc. It is an application layer protocol that is used to provide:

Subnet Mask (e.g., 255.255.255.0)

Router Address (e.g., 192.168.1.1)
DNS Address (e.g., 8.8.8.8)

DHCP is based on a client-server model and based on discovery, offer, request, and ACK.

Why Use DHCP?

DHCP helps in managing the entire process automatically and centrally. DHCP helps in
maintaining a unique IP Address for a host using the server. DHCP servers maintain information
on TCP/IP configuration and provide configuration of address to DHCP-enabled clients in the
form of a lease offer.

Components of DHCP
The main components of DHCP include:

 DHCP Server: DHCP Server is a server that holds IP Addresses and other information
related to configuration.

 DHCP Client: It is a device that receives configuration information from the server. It
can be a mobile, laptop, computer, or any other electronic device that requires a
connection.

 DHCP Relay: DHCP relays basically work as a communication channel between DHCP
Client and Server.
 IP Address Pool: It is the pool or container of IP Addresses possessed by the DHCP
Server. It has a range of addresses that can be allocated to devices.

 Subnets: Subnets are smaller portions of the IP network partitioned to keep networks
under control.

 Lease: It is simply the time that how long the information received from the server is
valid, in case of expiration of the lease, the tenant must have to re-assign the lease.

 DNS Servers: DHCP servers can also provide DNS (Domain Name System) server
information to DHCP clients, allowing them to resolve domain names to IP addresses.

 Default Gateway: DHCP servers can also provide information about the default
gateway, which is the device that packets are sent to when the destination is outside the
local network.

 Options: DHCP servers can provide additional configuration options to clients, such as
the subnet mask, domain name, and time server information.

 Renewal: DHCP clients can request to renew their lease before it expires to ensure that
they continue to have a valid IP address and configuration information.

 Failover: DHCP servers can be configured for failover, where two servers work together
to provide redundancy and ensure that clients can always obtain an IP address and
configuration information, even if one server goes down.

 Dynamic Updates: DHCP servers can also be configured to dynamically update DNS
records with the IP address of DHCP clients, allowing for easier management of network
resources.

 Audit Logging: DHCP servers can keep audit logs of all DHCP transactions, providing
administrators with visibility into which devices are using which IP addresses and when
leases are being assigned or renewed.

 Hardware length: This is an 8-bit field defining the length of the physical address in
bytes. e.g for Ethernet the value is 6.

 Hop count: This is an 8-bit field defining the maximum number of hops the packet can
travel.

 Transaction ID: This is a 4-byte field carrying an integer. The transaction identification
is set by the client and is used to match a reply with the request. The server returns the
same value in its reply.

 Number of seconds: This is a 16-bit field that indicates the number of seconds elapsed
since the time the client started to boot.
  Flag: This is a 16-bit field in which only the leftmost bit is used and the rest of the bit
should be set to os. A leftmost bit specifies a forced broadcast reply from the server. If
the reply were to be unicast to the client, the destination. IP address of the IP packet is the
address assigned to the client.

 Client IP address: This is a 4-byte field that contains the client IP address . If the client
does not have this information this field has a value of 0.

 Your IP address: This is a 4-byte field that contains the client IP address. It is filled by
the server at the request of the client.

 Server IP address: This is a 4-byte field containing the server IP address. It is filled by
the server in a reply message.

 Gateway IP address: This is a 4-byte field containing the IP address of a routers. IT is

filled by the server in a reply message.

 Client hardware address: This is the physical address of the client .Although the server
can retrieve this address from the frame sent by the client it is more efficient if the
address is supplied explicity by the client in the request message.

 Server name: This is a 64-byte field that is optionally filled by the server in a reply
packet. It contains a null-terminated string consisting of the domain name of the server. If
the server does not want to fill this filed with data, the server must fill it with all 0s.

 Boot filename: This is a 128-byte field that can be optionally filled by the server in a
reply packet. It contains a null- terminated string consisting of the full pathname of the
boot file. The client can use this path to retrieve other booting information. If the server
does not want to fill this field with data, the server must fill it with all 0s.

 Options: This is a 64-byte field with a dual purpose. IT can carry either additional
information or some specific vendor information. The field is used only in a reply
message. The server uses a number, called a magic cookie, in the format of an IP address
with the value of 99.130.83.99. When the client finishes reading the message, it looks for
this magic cookie. If present the next 60 bytes are options.

Working of DHCP
DHCP works on the Application layer of the TCP/IP Protocol. The main task of DHCP is to
dynamically assigns IP Addresses to the Clients and allocate information on TCP/IP
configuration to Clients.

The DHCP port number for the server is 67 and for the client is 68. It is a client-server protocol
that uses UDP services. An IP address is assigned from a pool of addresses. In DHCP, the client
and the server exchange mainly 4 DHCP messages in order to make a connection, also called the
DORA process, but there are 8 DHCP messages in the process.
 Advantages of DHCP
 Centralized management of IP addresses.

 Centralized and automated TCP/IP configuration.

 Ease of adding new clients to a network.

 Reuse of IP addresses reduces the total number of IP addresses that are required.

 The efficient handling of IP address changes for clients that must be updated frequently,
such as those for portable devices that move to different locations on a wireless network.

 Simple reconfiguration of the IP address space on the DHCP server without needing to
reconfigure each client.

 The DHCP protocol gives the network administrator a method to configure the network
from a centralized area.

 With the help of DHCP, easy handling of new users and the reuse of IP addresses can be
achieved.

Disadvantages of DHCP
 IP conflict can occur.

 The problem with DHCP is that clients accept any server. Accordingly, when another
server is in the vicinity, the client may connect with this server, and this server may
possibly send invalid data to the client.

 The client is not able to access the network in absence of a DHCP Server.

 The name of the machine will not be changed in a case when a new IP Address is
assigned.