DHCP: The server should be configured to send its default gateway to all clients

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012

This topic is intended to address a specific issue identified by a Best Practices Analyzer scan. You should apply the information in this topic only to computers that have had the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Best Practices Analyzer run against them and are experiencing the issue addressed by this topic. For more information about best practices and scans, see Best Practices Analyzer (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=122786).

Operating System

Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012

Product/Feature

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

Severity

Error

Category

Configuration

Issue

DHCP server does not have the default gateway option (option 3) set for one or more scopes.

Impact

The DHCP server will not provide default gateway addresses to clients resulting in loss of connectivity for client computers.

Resolution

Use the DHCP MMC to configure the default gateway option at each scope.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) uses options to pass additional Internet Protocol (IP) settings to DHCP clients on a network. Examples of DHCP options include:

  • The default gateway IP address

  • The Domain Name System (DNS) server IP address

  • The DNS domain name

Membership in the Administrators or DHCP Administrators group is the minimum required to complete this procedure.

To configure the DHCP default gateway option

  1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools and then click DHCP.

  2. In the console tree, expand the applicable DHCP server, expand IPv4, and then right-click Scope Options

  3. Click Configure Options, check 003 Router, type the applicable Server name and IP address, and then click OK.

Additional references

For updated detailed IT pro information about DHCP, see the Windows Server 2008 R2 documentation on the Microsoft TechNet Web site.