How Do I Configure DHCP Server Service?

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a service that helps you manage your network by automating the configuration of IP addresses and other TCP/IP properties on your server or client computers. By using DHCP, you can connect new computers to your network without manually setting the IP address, subnet mask, or other configuration items.

Configuring DHCP

You have the option to configure DHCP when you run the Windows® Essential Business Server Installation Wizard. In the wizard, you set the static IP addresses for the Management Server, Security Server, and Messaging Server, as well as the subnet mask, the default gateway, and the preferred and alternate Domain Name Service servers that you plan to use on your network.

DHCP scope range

When you configure DHCP, you can define a block of IP addresses from which the service can assign addresses to new servers, client computers, or other devices that are added to the network. This block of addresses is called the "DHCP scope range." The Management Server Installation Wizard asks you to define a range of IP addresses for your DHCP scope. You enter the Starting IP address value and the Ending IP address value. You name this range by filling in the Name of DHCP scope field in the wizard.

You should select a block of addresses that is large enough to accommodate your current needs plus room for expansion. For Windows EBS, the maximum number of licenses you can assign is 300, so your scope range should include a range of IP addresses somewhere between your current needs and 300.

For example, if you define a scope range of 150 addresses to meet your current and future needs, DHCP might assign a start IP address of 192.168.10.51 and an end IP address of 192.168.10.254. The IP addresses from 192.168.10.0 through 192.168.10.50 will not be automatically assigned by DHCP. This means that you can manually assign them as static addresses to servers, network printers, or other devices.

DHCP exclusion range

Another way to create a block of assignable addresses is to define an "exclusion range." In this case, you define a block of IP addresses that DHCP does not automatically assign. For example, if you want to reserve the first 50 available addresses for manual, static assignment to servers, printers, or other devices, you set your exclusion range to start at 198.162.10.0 and end at 198.162.10.49. All other addresses from 198.162.10.50 through .254 are available for DHCP to assign automatically.