Windows Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Management Pack Guide

Document Revisions

The following table summarizes the revisions that have been made to this document.

Revisions, June 2005

Section

New or Updated

Title

Description

Overview of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Management Pack

Updated

Monitoring in Low-Privilege Configuration

Updated support statement.

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Management Pack is used to monitor DHCP on computers running Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows 2003.

DHCP

DHCP is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard designed to reduce the administration burden and the complexity of configuring hosts on a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)-based network, such as a private intranet. Using DHCP, the process of configuring TCP/IP on DHCP clients is automatic.

DHCP Management Pack

The DHCP Management Pack analyzes information generated by the DHCP. By monitoring information produced by DHCP, such as events, the DHCP Management Pack increases the security, availability, and performance of the Windows environment in your organization. The DHCP Management Pack ensures that the critical part of your DHCP infrastructure is working correctly and helps prevent costly service outages.

The DHCP Management Pack includes automated tasks to provide easy access to common network administration and diagnostic tools. It also includes reports that draw attention to performance bottlenecks and provide data for capacity planning.

This guide corresponds to version 05.0.3000.0000 of the DHCP Management Pack. After importing the Management Pack, check the version to ensure that it is correct.

To view the version of the installed Management Pack

  1. In the Administrator console, expand Management Packs and then expand Rule Groups.

  2. Right-click Microsoft Windows DHCP Server (enabled), and then select Properties.

  3. On the General tab, in the Rule Group Properties dialog box, the Version field displays the version number.

For more information, and to download MOM Management Packs, visit the MOM Management Pack Catalog Web site.

DHCP Terminology

DHCP Server   Any server running the DHCP Server Service to provide DHCP services to DHCP clients.

DHCP client   Any device connected to the network and which supports the ability to communicate with a DHCP Server to receive DHCP services.

DHCP offer message A message used by DHCP servers to offer the lease of an IP address to a DHCP client when it connects to the network.

DHCP request message A message sent by clients to the DHCP server to request or renew lease of its IP address.

DHCP scope A range of IP addresses that the DHCP Server can deliver to clients that are requesting an IP address.

DHCP superscope An administrative grouping feature that allows a DHCP server to use more than scope for each physical interface and subnet.

Requirements

For the DHCP Management Pack to operate optimally, the following requirements must be met:

  • Each DHCP Server must be managed by Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM).

  • Monitored DCHP servers, running Windows Server 2003, must have Windows Server 2003 SP1 installed. The netsh.exe utility that is included in SP1 allows the DHCP Server 2003 - Scope Monitoring script to properly monitor DHCP superscopes.

  • Any specific DHCP requirements must be met.