Checklist: Installing a DHCP server

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Checklist: Installing a DHCP server

Step Reference

Review DHCP concepts such as scopes, leases, and options.

Important

  • If you are operating in a domain environment under an earlier version of Windows NT Server, it is recommended that you first upgrade your domain controllers to Windows Server 2003 family before installing DHCP on your network.

DHCP terminology

Determine the IP address range or ranges for which DHCP will be needed to provide configuration service on your network.

Configuring scopes

Manually configure TCP/IP properties for the DHCP server computer.

Configure TCP/IP for static addressing

Install the DHCP server.

Install a DHCP server

Open the DHCP console.

Open the DHCP console

Authorize the DHCP server in Active Directory.

Authorize a DHCP server in Active Directory; Authorizing DHCP servers

If the DHCP server is multihomed, disable service bindings for any connection not to be used to listen and provide service to clients.

Selectively set DHCP server bindings for network connections; Multihomed DHCP servers

Set DNS dynamic update policy for the DHCP server.

Enable DNS dynamic updates for clients; Using DNS servers with DHCP

(Optional) If you are using multiple scopes, configure any default option types for the server that should be inherited by all scopes. Server options are assigned to all DHCP clients that lease an IP address from any scope configured on the server.

Assign a server-based option; Assigning options

Create a new scope and assign commonly used options, such as WINS and DNS servers (unless these are already configured as server options). Scope options are assigned only to DHCP clients that lease an IP address from the scope where the option is configured.

Create a new scope; Configuring scopes; Assigning options

(Optional) Configure additional scope option types if you have subnets that need option configurations in addition to server options that are already configured.

Assign a scope-based option; Assigning options

(Optional) Add reservations for clients that require a reserved IP address assigned by DHCP. Reservations assure that DHCP clients keep the same IP address and have DHCP options refreshed each time the client renews the IP address lease.

Add a client reservation; Using client reservations

(Optional) Create exclusion ranges to prevent some IP addresses from being leased by the DHCP server. If you have network devices (such as printers, servers, or wireless access points) that must be configured with static IP addresses, create an exclusion range within the scope's address range; you can then assign static addresses to devices from the range of addresses excluded from distribution by the DHCP server.

Exclude an address from a scope

Activate the scope.

Activate a scope

(Optional) For additional fault tolerance, you can implement DHCP clustering support using a server cluster.

Note

  • DHCP clustering servers are implemented using the Clustering service, which is provided only with Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition.

Cluster support for DHCP servers