DHCP Client service is not running

[This topic is intended to address a specific issue called out by the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool. You should apply it only to systems that have had the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool run against them and are experiencing that specific issue. The Exchange Server Analyzer Tool, available as a free download, remotely collects configuration data from each server in the topology and automatically analyzes the data. The resulting report details important configuration issues, potential problems, and nondefault product settings. By following these recommendations, you can achieve better performance, scalability, reliability, and uptime. For more information about the tool or to download the latest versions, see "Microsoft Exchange Analyzers" at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34707.]  

Topic Last Modified: 2005-11-18

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool queries the Win32_Service Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) class to determine the value of the Started key for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Client service. If the Exchange Server Analyzer finds that the value of the Started key for the DHCP Client service on an Exchange server is set to False, the Exchange Server Analyzer displays a warning.

This warning indicates that the DHCP Client service is not running. The DHCP Client service performs dynamic Domain Name System (DNS) updates. If the DHCP Client service is not running, dynamic update failures will occur. If an Exchange server is not running this service, the most common problem will be mail flow problems.

To correct this problem, set the DHCP Client Service to automatic startup, and then start the service.

Note

The DHCP Client service must be running, even if the server is configured to use static IP addresses rather than DHCP.

To enable the DHCP Client service

  1. Open the Services snap-in.

  2. In the details pane, right-click the DHCP Client Service, and then click Properties.

  3. On the General tab, click the Startup type, and select Automatic.

  4. Click Start, and then click OK.

For more information about the DHCP Client service, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 264539, "Dynamic DNS updates do not work if the DHCP client service stops" (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=264539).

For more information about the DNS dynamic update protocol, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 816592, "How to configure DNS dynamic updates in Windows Server 2003" (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=816592).