Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

A.Syed Sirajudeen

27th NOV 2007

Agenda

• The Need For DHCP

• BOOTP
• DHCP-Introduction
• DHCP Processing Model
• Allocating a New Network Address

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The Need For DHCP
Every computer on a TCP/IP network must have a unique
IP address. The IP address identifies both the host
computer and the subnet to which it is attached. When
you move a computer to a different subnet, the IP
address must be changed. DHCP allows you to
dynamically assign an IP address to a client from a DHCP
server IP address database

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The Need For DHCP (contd)
¾ Internet Protocol needs to know the IP address of the
computer.
¾ It can be configured manually and locally for each
computer.
¾ But if configured Manually,
• Keeping the parameters up-to-date is not a one-time effort
• A change in a parameter common to all the computers in a
subnet forces changes in each computer on the net
• Some systems may not have a permanent storage device to store
the configuration parameters
• Shortage of IP addresses makes it a waste to give a computer a
permanent address

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BOOTP

¾ DHCP is an extension of Bootstrap protocol (BOOTP).

¾ BOOTP allows a diskless client machine to discover its

own IP address, the address of a server host, and the
name of a file to be loaded into memory and executed.

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BOOTP (contd)
¾ Similarities of DHCP and BOOTP:
- Client/server model
- Nearly identical message structure
(BOOTP/DHCP relay agent usually treat their
messages as the same message type without
differentiating them)
- UDP port numbers(67/68)
(Both BOOTP and DHCP servers use UDP port
67 to listen for and receive client request
messages. And both their clients use 68 for
accepting message replies from either a
BOOTP or DHCP server)
- IP address distribution as an integral part of
configuration service

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BOOTP (contd)
¾ Two major differences:
1. BOOTP database was static and maintained manually
(DHCP database is dynamic. The size of the database is
dependent upon the number of DHCP clients on the
network. The DHCP database grows and shrinks over
time.)

2. BOOTP server cannot do dynamic allocation and

distribution of IP addresses to the hosts. (It provides
fixed allocation of a single IP address for each client,
permanently reserving this address in its database.
However, DHCP provides dynamic, leased allocation of
available IP addresses, reserving each DHCP client
address temporarily in the database.)

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DHCP-Introduction

¾ Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol(DHCP) provides a

framework for passing configuration information to hosts
on a TCP/IP network.
¾ DHCP is based on the Bootstrap Protocol(BOOTP), adding
the capability of automatic allocation of reusable
network addresses and additional configuration options.
¾ DHCP captures the behavior of BOOTP relay agents and
DHCP participants can interoperate with BOOTP
participants.

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DHCP-Introduction (contd)
¾ DHCP provides configuration parameters to Internet hosts
in a client-server model.
¾ DHCP hosts allocate network addresses and deliver
configuration parameters to other (client) hosts.
¾ Client and server negotiate in a series of messages to get
the needed parameters
¾ This process involves more than one server but only one
server is selected by the client
¾ DHCP consists of 2 components
• One for delivering host-specific configuration parameters from a
server to a host
• One for allocation of network addresses to hosts

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DHCP-Introduction (contd)

¾ DHCP supports 3 mechanisms for IP address

allocation

• Automatic allocation: Host gets permanent address

• Dynamic Allocation: Address has expiration time
• Manual allocation: Fixed mapping

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DHCP-Processing Model

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DHCP-Processing Model (contd)

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DHCP-Processing Model (contd)

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Allocating a New Network Address
1. The client broadcasts a DHCPDISCOVER message
on its local physical subnet.

2. Each server may respond with a DHCPOFFER

message that includes an available network
address

3. The client receives one or more DHCPOFFER

messages from and chooses one server, then
broadcasts a DHCPREQUEST message include
the 'server identifier' to indicate the selected
server.

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Allocating a New Network Address (contd)
4. The servers receive the DHCPREQUEST broadcast from
the client. The selected server commits the binding for
the client to persistent storage and responds with a
DHCPACK message containing the configuration
parameters for the requesting client.

5. The client receives the DHCPACK message with

configuration parameters.

6. The client may choose to relinquish its lease on a

network address by sending a DHCPRELEASE message to
the server.

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Clear View

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Thank You