1 HV Installation and Operations Guide

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Enabling DHCP

DHCP, or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, is an open industry standard

that simplifies administering networks based on Transmission Control Protocol/

Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). DHCP allows network resources to go farther by

enabling a unique IP address to be assigned to a specific device (HP bridge,

client host, etc.) on a non-permanent, dynamic basis.

DHCP makes network administration easier-the larger the network, the greater

the benefit. DHCP accommodates larger networks since it can assign

temporary IP addresses for a specified time interval. DHCP frees network

administrators from having to configure each bridge or host manually.

Other benefits of a DHCP environment include:

■ No additional address configuration is required for client hosts.

■ IP addresses can be reused or leased for specific time periods.

■ IP address assignment is better managed. For example, if the IP address for

a bridge in a network changes and 250 client computers have to be

updated with the new address, you do not have to manually reconfigure

every workstation.

Without DHCP, permanent IP address configuration is the only option. This

means a network administrator is required to manually configure a permanent

IP address for each individual bridge or client host. Permanent IP addresses

require more network resources, but are useful when dealing with smaller LAN

environments. Without dynamic address assignment, bridges and hosts have

to be configured manually one by one. IP addresses must be managed to

avoid duplicate use, and changes must be applied to clients by hand.

Configuration information is not centralized, and it is difficult to get a view of

all bridge or host configurations.

The use of TCP/IP and DHCP both contribute to networking and the growth of

the Internet. TCP/IP uses open protocol standards that enable the forming of

wide area networks (WANS). For each HP bridge to identify itself on a TCP/IP

network, it must be uniquely identified by the following information: