Configure Advanced DHCP Features
There are a lot of server roles that you can install in Windows 2012 Server and one of them is DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). DHCP server role ensure you that clients have applicable IP Address and the correct network configuration information that can get rid of human error during configuration. It is one of the most important role in the Windows Server 2012 R2 because it is primary distributor of the network configuration to network clients. Additionally, it allocates configuration of information to other network-enabled services such as WDS (Windows Deployment Services) and NAP (Network Access Protection).
DHCP components are very valuable in configuring features such as DHCP Server Service. This service can allocate IP Addresses and network configuration to the clients. DHCP Scopes administers the range of the IP Addresses and related information that is allocated to the server. The scope of each range can be associated with a single IP subnet and consists of:
- Name and description
- Range of addresses that can be distributed
- subnet mask
The scope can also define:
- IP Addresses that should be excluded from distribution
- The duration of the IP address lease
- DHCP options
DHCP options purpose assigning IP Address to the client that can simultaneously assign many other network configuration parameters. Common DHCP options includes Default Gateway IP Address, DNS server IP address, DNS domain suffix, and Windows Internet Name Server (WINS) server IP Address. DHCP Database contains configuration data about the DHCP server, and stores information about the IP Addresses that have been distributed. The DHCP database is a Microsoft JET database and files are stored by default in the %systemroot%\System32\Dhcp folder. DHCP Console is the main administrative tool for managing all aspects of DHCP Server. It is automatically installed on any server that has the DHCP role.
The Clients acquire IP Addresses through DHCP Service, upon startup the clients will use an Address Resulotion Protocol (ARP) Broadcast in its subnet to request IP configuration from any DCHP server that receive the request. DHCP distribute IP Address on a dynamic basis and it is called lease. You can configure the duration of the lease and the default lease time would be eight days. However, on mobile or handheld devices like tablets and smartphones has shorter lease duration. You must be an Enterprise Administrator to authorize the DHCP Server but if the server is a domain member, you need to Authorize the Windows Server 2012 DHCP role in the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).
