Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server

What Does Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server Mean?

A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server is a device or system which controls DHCP. It assigns IP addresses to client computers that connect to it in order for those clients to become part of the network. The DHCP server considerably reduces configuration efforts because an administrator does not have to manually assign each computer with IP addresses and other IP-related settings.

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Techopedia Explains Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server

Pieces of network equipment are often DHCP servers themselves. This makes sense since most networking equipment, especially routers, are connected to all clients and they serve as the best hubs for giving out DHCP leases to client computers. This can also be done by computers and even virtual machines that have been set up to act as DHCP servers. A good example of this is a domain controller in a Windows network; it can act as a DHCP server, giving out DHCP leases to client computers as well as act as authenticator for security and identity.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…