What is DHCP and how it works

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DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is a network management protocol used to assign IP addresses to devices on a network.

DHCP server assigns IP addresses to devices on a network
It also provides other network configuration information such as subnet mask and default gateway
DHCP uses a lease mechanism to control the amount of time a device can use an IP address
DHCP reduces the administrative task of manually assigning IP addresses to devices
Example: When a device connects to a network, it sends a DHCP request to the DHCP server to obtain an IP address

Accepted Answer

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is a network management protocol used to assign IP addresses to devices on a network.

DHCP server assigns IP addresses to devices on a network
It ...read more

Request for IP Address: When a device (like a computer, smartphone, or printer) connects to a network, it sends out a DHCP request to find an available IP address.
DHCP Server: A DHCP server on the network receives these requests. This server manages a pool of available IP addresses and other network settings.
IP Address Assignment: The DHCP server responds to the device's request by assigning it an IP address from the available pool. It also provides additional network configuration details, such as the subnet mask, default gateway (router), and DNS server addresses.
Lease Time: The DHCP server usually assigns IP addresses for a specific period, known as the lease time. After this time expires, the device may request a renewal of its IP address lease.
Renewal and Release: During operation, devices can renew their IP address leases if they remain connected to the network. When a device disconnects or leaves the network, it sends a DHCP release message to inform the server that it no longer needs the assigned IP address.
Dynamic Configuration: DHCP allows for dynamic configuration of IP addresses, which means that devices can join and leave the network without requiring manual configuration of IP addresses on each device. This is particularly useful in large networks where managing IP addresses manually would be impractical.

What is DHCP and how it works

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