Technical data

Configuring the DHCP Server
7.1 Key Concepts
Messages that include a DHCP message-type option are assumed to have
been sent by a DHCP client. Messages without the DHCP message-type
option are assumed to have been sent by a BOOTP client.
However, DHCP improves the BOOTP-only functionality in the following ways:
• DHCP allows the serial reassignment of network addresses to different clients
by assigning a network address for a finite lease period.
• DHCP allows clients to acquire all of the IP configuration parameters they
need to operate.
7.1.4 Client ID
With BOOTP, a client is identified by its unique media access control (MAC)
address that is associated with the network adapter card.
DHCP uses a client identifier (ID) to uniquely identify the client and associate it
with a lease: The client creates the client ID from one of the following types of
addresses:
• The MAC address.
• A variation of the MAC address. For example, Windows 95 and Windows NT
clients create the client ID by prepending the hardware type to the hardware
address.
If the client does not include a client ID in the request, the server uses the client’s
MAC address.
7.2 DHCP Server Components
This section describes the software and system elements that comprise the DHCP
server component, including:
• Executable files
• Configuration files
• Command files
• Logical Names
• Log files
7.2.1 Executable Files
Ten programs comprise the DHCP server component. Table 7–2 describes the
programs.
7–4 Configuring the DHCP Server