Step-by-Step Guide to Installing DHCP on Windows Server 2016

Introduction

This document provides a comprehensive, step-by-step tutorial for the installation and configuration of DHCP on Windows Server 2016 Standard.

What is DHCP?

DHCP stands for "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol." It is a network protocol used to automate the process of assigning IP (Internet Protocol) addresses and other network configuration settings to devices on a network.

Why DHCP is important?

DHCP is important because it simplifies the management of IP addresses and network configurations, reduces the potential for errors, and streamlines the process of connecting devices to a network. It is particularly valuable in larger and more complex network environments where manual IP address management would be cumbersome and error-prone.

Advantages of DHCP Server:

Automatic IP Address Assignment: DHCP assigns IP addresses to devices on the network automatically. Without DHCP, you'd have to manually configure each device with a unique IP address. DHCP simplifies this process, saving time and reducing the chances of configuration errors.

Efficient Resource Management: DHCP ensures efficient use of available IP addresses by allocating them only when needed. When devices leave the network, DHCP can reclaim and reuse those addresses for new devices, preventing IP address conflicts.

Simplified Network Maintenance: It streamlines network maintenance because you can make changes to network settings (like DNS servers or gateway addresses) centrally on the DHCP server. These

changes are then automatically distributed to all connected devices, reducing the need for manual updates.

Ease of Device Management: When devices connect to the network, they receive IP addresses and other network parameters from the DHCP server. This makes it easier to track and manage devices on the network, as you can identify them by their assigned IP addresses.

Reduced Configuration Errors: DHCP reduces the likelihood of human errors in IP address configuration, ensuring that devices have correct and compatible network settings.

Prerequisites for Installing a DHCP Server

1. Ensure that the server is running a compatible operating system that supports DHCP server functionality.

2. Assign a static IP address and a proper computer name to the server that will host the DHCP service.

3. Verify that the server hardware meets the requirements for the DHCP server.

4. Ensure that the server is connected to the network where DHCP services are needed.

5. You need administrative access to the server to install and configure DHCP

6. Plan your network design schema, including IP address ranges, Subnet mask, Default Gateway, IP Address to exclude and DNS server addresses.

7. Check the firewall rules on the server are set to allow DHCP traffic

Note:

Adding a DHCP server to a domain controller is not mandatory, but doing so can provide specific management and integration benefits. Therefore, the decision to include a DHCP server in a domain should align with your network design, security policies, and administrative requirements.

Step-by-step instructions to installing and configuring a DHCP Server.

Step 1:

Login to the server that will host DHCP with the user that has administrative rights. In my case, the server is Windows Server 2016. My DHCP server is already joined in the domain.

Step 2:

Open Server Manager -> Go to Manage -> Open “Add Roles and features”

Step 3:

This will open “Before you begin” page, press Next

Under “Installation Type”, select “Role-based or feature-based installation”. Then, Next

Under Server Selection, check “Select a server from the server pool” and make sure you have selected the correct server and press Next

This is the most important step. Under Server Roles, check “DHCP Server” and it will open Add Features page click on Add Features and press Next

Under Features, nothing to select and press Next

Under DHCP Server, this will provide a small explanation about DHCP protocol and press Next

Press “Install” from the confirmation

Once the installation has completed successfully, it will ask you to “Complete DHCP configuration” and click on it.

Step 4:

This will open DHCP Post-Install configuration wizard and press Next from the Description page

From Authorization page, select “Use the following user’s credentials” and press Commit.

Close the Summary. and then close “Add roles and features wizard”

Restart the server.

Step 5:

Once the server is up, open DHCP from Windows Administrative Tools.

Step6:

Create a new scope on IPv4.

Expand dhcp server name -> Right click on IPv4 -> Add New Scope

This will open New Scope Wizard, click on Next

Provide any Name and Description for the Scope, click Next

On the 'IP Address Range' page, enter the Start and End IP addresses along with the Subnet mask that you want to allocate for your client machines, then click 'Next'.

Include any exclusion IP addresses that you do not want to be assigned to client machines within the specified range and then click Next.

Set the Lease Duration according to your requirement. By default it is set to 8 days. Click Next

Select “Yes, I want to configure these options now” and click Next

Add the Router (Default Gateway) IP address and click Next

For the Domain Name and DNS Servers, provide parent domain as your AD domain name and make sure it’s DC’s IP address is added to it and click Next

Click Next from WINS Servers

Select “Yes, I want to activate this scope now” and click Next

Click on Finish.

We have successfully completed the New Scope wizard and you can see your scope under IPv4.

On Client Machine,

Open CMD and perform the following commands

$𝒊𝒑𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒈 /𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 # This command will release the current IP Address

$𝒊𝒑𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒈 /𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘 # This command will allocate a new IP address

$𝒊𝒑𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒈 /𝒂𝒍𝒍 # Provides all the details of the IP of the client machine

From the details, you can see that DHCP is enabled and the DHCP Server is showing the IP of our DHCP server.