DHCP Client (System Services for the Windows Server 2003 Family and Windows XP Operating Systems)

Service Name: Dhcp

Executable Name: svchost.exe -k netsvcs

Log On As: NetworkService

Description: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Client manages network configuration by registering and updating IP addresses and Domain Name Server (DNS) names for your computer. You do not have to manually change the IP settings when a client, such as a roaming user, wanders throughout the network. The client is automatically given a new IP address regardless of the subnet it reconnects to—as long as a DHCP server is accessible from each of those subnets. There is no need to manually configure settings for DNS or Windows Internet Name Service (WINS). The DHCP server can give these settings to the client, as long as the DHCP server has been configured to issue such information. To enable this option on the client, simply select the Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically option button. There are no conflicts caused by duplicate IP addresses.

If this service is stopped or disabled, you will not be able to obtain an IP address from a DHCP Server and you will have to configure a static IP address on the local machine. If this service is set to manual it will not demand start.

See also DHCP Server, Manage Your Server, Configure Your Server.

Available on: Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional; Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition; Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition and Windows Server 2003, Web Edition.

Installed through: Default operating system installation

Startup type: Automatic

Service status: Started

This service depends on the following system components:

AFD Networking Support Environment

TCP/IP Protocol Driver

IPSEC Driver

The following system components depend on this service:

WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service

IP Port Numbers used:

TCP: 68

UDP: 67, 68, 1029