DHCP / Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for Not Yet Techies

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and is an open Internet communications standard for saving time for network administrators by allocating IP addresses dynamically over a network and managing the configuration of other TCP/IP information. DHCP makes it easy for large businesses where many employees access the Internet off and on - it controls the IP address allocated to each PC workstation they are using.

Before DHCP, network administrators had to assign these IP addresses to each workstation by hand using subnet marks and default gateways. They had to maintain a log of these assignments, which is error-prone and time consuming. It allows network administrators to make changes to a client's IP configuration from a central location, without visiting each workstation -- which for large businesses could include thousands of PCs spread out over continents.

(An IP address must be assigned to each machine when it accesses the Internet. Your personal computer has one if you go online using DSL or cable. If you use a dialup connection, you're allocated an IP address by your Internet Service Provider.)

Using the client/server model, network information is maintained and updated dynamically by the system, tracked by the System Monitor.

In prior incarnations DHCP was known as RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Process) and BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol). In the future it will adapt to the coming networking protocols of IPv6 and be known as DHCPv6.

DHCP is defined by RFC (Request For Comments) 2131 and 2132. Microsoft, working with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), was instrumental in developing it.

DHCP allows systems administrators to control configuration parameters on the network. Clients can be dynamically configured. This includes scopes - a collection of IP configuration parameters.

Windows network operating systems come with DHCP servers installed.

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