Understanding the DHCP Design Process
Applies To: Windows Server 2008
Due to the limitations of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), the most commonly used IP addressing standard, it is not possible to allocate IP addresses to all computers or devices on a permanent basis in most enterprise environments. Instead, a mechanism is required to allocate IP addresses to resources when they connect to the network, either at startup or physical connection time.
DHCP design consists of the following steps:
Design Step 1: Determine the DHCP Service Design: This guide describes the three most common address allocation methods. You can use only one of these options, or any combination of the three:
Design Step 2: Create a DHCP Design Configuration: This guide describes configuration options and helps you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each:
Design Step 3: Map the Design Configuration to the Hardware and Software Configuration: This guide describes how to map the logical design onto physical hardware and software configurations based on service-level design requirements: