What Is DHCP - Relay Agent - DORA Process - A Complete Guide

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What is DHCP? Its Relay Agent, DORA

Process and Server Configuration

Explained!
Author : Saraswati
Last Modified: April 27, 2023
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is an extremely useful protocol as,
without it, it becomes necessary to manually assign IP addresses for new computers and
computers that are transferred from one subnet to another. So, let’s learn what is DHCP
and what are DHCP Relay agents, and what DHCP DORA Process is.
Do you know that to connect to a TCP/IP-based network and use its resources, each
device needs a distinct unicast IP address?
The DHCP protocol automatically provides this unicast IP address to each device.
To learn DHCP in detail, you should join CCNA Training.
Table
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1. What is DHCP?
2. DHCP DORA Process
2.1. 1. Discover
2.2. 2. Offer
2.3. 3. Request
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2.4. 4. Acknowledge Blog Student Reviews
2.5. Important DHCP Terms
2.6. DHCP Server Deployment:
3. DHCP Relay Agent
What is DHCP?
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is an application layer protocol that allows a
server to dynamically assign IP addresses & more information to hosts connected to LAN.
IP Address
Subnet Mask
Default-Gateway
DNS-Server
DHCP is based on a client-server model and works on the discovery, offer, request, and
Acknowledgement. DHCP uses the port number for:
DHCP Server uses Port No. 68

DHCP Client uses Port No. 67
It employs UDP services and is a client-server protocol, and a pool of addresses is used to
assign IP addresses. In DHCP, the client and the server exchange mainly 4 DHCP messages
in order to make a connection, also called the DHCP DORA process.
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DHCP DORA ProcessWhatsApp 9821215002
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DORA stands for Discover, Offer, Request, Reviews
Acknowledge. DHCP uses Dora Process to provide
an IP Address to hosts or client machines. It collects all of the IP addresses from the central
server that are accessible and gives them to hosts that want to connect to the network.
1. Discover
When you select the option “Obtain IP automatically,” it means that a DHCP client is
requesting IP to the DHCP server, and this discover request is sent out in the form of a
broadcast request using 255.255.255.255 This request will reach every device in the
network including DHCP server too.
Header info of discovery message –
Source IP address: 0.0.0.0

Destination IP address: 255.255.255.255
Source MAC address: MAC address of DHCP clients
Destination MAC address: FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF
2. Offer
Once the DHCP accepts the discover request sent by the client. The DHCP will offer some IP
to the client.
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Header info of offer message –

Source IP address: IP of DHCP Server Destination
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IP address: 255.255.255.255
Source MAC address: DHCP Server’s MAC address
Destination MAC address: MAC add of DHCP clients
3. Request
The client will select the IP address accordingly and request to the DHCP server that “I want
to use this IP”. So, the client will send a request to use the specific selected IP.
Header info of request message –
Source IP address: 0.0.0.0

Source MAC address: MAC add of DHCP clients
Destination MAC address: MAC add of DHCP server
4. Acknowledge
The DHCP server will receive the request sent by the client machine and then acknowledge
the requested IP.
Header info of acknowledge message –
Source IP address: IP Address of DHCP Server

Source MAC address: MAC address of DHCP server
Destination MAC address: MAC add of DHCP clients
Discover Via Client using port no. 67
Offer Via server using port no. 68
Request Via Client using port no. 67
Acknowledge Via server using port no. 68
Important DHCP Terms

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Scope – all the IP Addresses which DHCP provides comes under the scope.
Lease – for how much time your DHCP will lease the IP to the client.
Exclusion – to exclude IP Addresses.
Reservation – to reserve IP Addresses for the machine.
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DHCP Server Deployment:
We can deploy the DHCP server in two ways:
Centralized – Single DHCP for all networks (For this, we need to configure DHCP Relay
Agent).
Decentralized – Separate DHCP for every network.
Because whenever we configure multiple DHCP servers on one router, we have to make
another router act as DHCP Relay Agent. This is only possible in the centralized deployment
of DHCP because in decentralized, you always have to configure separate DHCPs for
separate networks or routers.
DHCP Relay Agent

A host or router that relays DHCP packets between clients and servers is known as a DHCP
relay agent. The SD-WAN equipment’ DHCP Relay feature allows network managers to
relay communications between nearby DHCP Clients and a distant DHCP Server.
Local hosts can obtain dynamic IP addresses from the distant DHCP Server thanks to it.
After receiving DHCP messages, the relay agent creates a fresh message to broadcast on
a different interface.
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creating a DHCP relay agent, you must let the R-2 know the IP of the DHCP server.
You can tell any IP (R-1 or R-2) 10.0.0.1 or 10.0.0.2
So, then the router won’t broadcast. It’ll unicast to the LAN 192.168.2.1
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And this is how it’ll unicast,
Source IP Source Port Port No. 68
Destination IP Destination Port Port No. 67
Like this –
192.168.2.1 68 10.0.0.1 67
Source IP Source Port Destination IP Destination Port
Let’s configure DHCP Lab as per the given diagram.
Open R-1 & follow these commands –
Step 1: First, provide the IP Address to interface Fa0/1 – 192.168.1.1
R1(config)#interface fa0/1
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R1(config-if)#ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
R1(config-if)#No shutdown
Step 2: Let’s configure DHCP on R-1.WhatsApp 9821215002
R1(config)#Service DHCP (To enable DHCP Service if it’s disabled)
R1(config)#IP DHCP POOL PYNETLABS
R1(dhcp-config)#NETWORK 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0
R1(dhcp-config)#DEFAULT-ROUTER 192.168.1.100
R1(dhcp-config)#DNS-SERVER 8.8.8.8
R1(dhcp-config)#DOMAIN-NAME PYNET.COM
R1(dhcp-config)#EXIT
R1(config)#IP DHCP EXCLUDED-ADDRESS 192.168.1.2 192.168.1.5
IP DHCP EXCLUDED ADDRESS – It refers to the exclusion on IP, which we don’t want.
SERVICE DHCP – It’s only used when DHCP Service is not enabled.
Now, let’s verify DHCP with our connected nodes.
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No IP has been assigned yet, so type DHCP on the node as we use GNS for this lab in packet
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tracer. You can directly click on obtain IP automatically.
As we write DHCP & Press, enter DORA process will run, and these are the results we got.
To Verify DHCP on R-1, use these commands:
R1#Show ip dhcp pool
R1#show ip dhcp binding
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If you want to renew IP on the host machine –
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PC- 1#ipconfig /release
PC- 1#ipconfig /renew
Now, we’ll assign IP to FA0/0 as 10.0.0.1 & 10.0.0.2 and then we’ll do static routing in both
routers.
R1(config-if)#no shutdown
R1(config-if)#exit
R1(config)#ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 11.0.0.2 (Static Routing)
Assign the same on R-2 now. Just configure only IP Addresses as of now.
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R2#configure
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R2(config-if)#no shutdown R2(config-if)#exit
R2(config-if)#no shutdown
R2(config-if)#exit
R2(config)#ip route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 (Static route for R1)
Now what we must understand is that to assign IPs on Network 192.168.2.0 we have to
create a DHCP Relay Agent.
So, now we must again go on R-1 and configure DHCP for R-2.
Let’s configure DHCP on R-1
R1(config)#Service DHCP (To enable DHCP Service if it’s disabled)
R1(config)#IP DHCP POOL PYNETLABS 1
R1(dhcp-config)#NETWORK 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0
R1(dhcp-config)#DEFAULT-ROUTER 192.168.2.100
R1(dhcp-config)#DNS-SERVER 8.8.8.8
R1(dhcp-config)#DOMAIN-NAME PYNETLABS.COM
R1(dhcp-config)#EXIT
R1(config)#IP DHCP EXCLUDED-ADDRESS 192.168.2.2 192.168.2.5

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Now, let’s make R-2 the DHCP Relay-Agent.
R2(config)#int fa0/1
R2(config-if)#ip helper-address 10.0.0.1
And we are done here, so that’s what is known as your DHCP Relay Agent as a centralized
server deployment.
And now you can see the R-2 is getting the DHCP IP Addresses from the R-1, and that’s
what the concept of Relay Agent is.
If you are still with us, we are sure you have understood everything about DHCP and how it
works. We hope you like it; please share your valuable feedback in the comment box
below. If you like this blog, it would be better to subscribe to our free newsletter to never
miss out on any new blogs. To help you understand DHCP better, here is the video for you
to watch.
You may also like –
UDP vs TCP
DHCP with IPv6

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Here are some FAQs related to DHCP:
Question 1 – What is DHCP and why it is used?
Answer – DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is an application layer protocol

that allows a server to dynamically assign IP addresses & more information to hosts
connected to LAN. It is used to acquire configuration information like DNS Server Addresses,
IP Addresses, and a default route.
Question 2 – What does DHCP and DNS do?
Answer – When a device connects to a network, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
(DHCP) automatically assigns IP addresses and other parameters to the device. In
contrast, an Internet service called the Domain Name System (DNS) converts domain
names into IP addresses.
Question 3 – Is DHCP same as IP address?
Answer – IP Address is a combination of numbers used to verify each device connected to

the network. In contrast, a DHCP is used to assign IP addresses to various devices joining
the network automatically.
Question 4 – What are the 4 steps of DHCP?
Answer – DHCP works on the DORA Process, so the 4 steps of DHCP are: Discover, Offer,
Request, and Acknowledge. It gathers all the available IP Addresses from the centralized
server and provides those to hosts who want to connect to the network.
You may also like – Hashing vs Encryption
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Blog Student Reviews

What is DHCP? Its Relay Agent, DORA

Process and Server Configuration

Last Modified: April 27, 2023

To learn DHCP in detail, you should join CCNA Training.

DHCP Server uses Port No. 68

Header info of discovery message –

Source IP address: 0.0.0.0

Header info of offer message –

Header info of request message –

Source IP address: 0.0.0.0

Header info of acknowledge message –

Source IP address: IP Address of DHCP Server

Discover Via Client using port no. 67

Offer Via server using port no. 68

Request Via Client using port no. 67

Acknowledge Via server using port no. 68

Important DHCP Terms

DHCP Relay Agent

Source IP Source Port Port No. 68

Destination IP Destination Port Port No. 67

Source IP Source Port Destination IP Destination Port

Let’s configure DHCP Lab as per the given diagram.

Open R-1 & follow these commands –

Step 1: First, provide the IP Address to interface Fa0/1 – 192.168.1.1

R1(config)#IP DHCP POOL PYNETLABS

R1(dhcp-config)#NETWORK 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0

R1(config)#IP DHCP EXCLUDED-ADDRESS 192.168.1.2 192.168.1.5

Now, let’s verify DHCP with our connected nodes.

To Verify DHCP on R-1, use these commands:

R1#Show ip dhcp pool

R1#show ip dhcp binding

PC- 1#ipconfig /renew

R1(config-if)#ip address 10.0.0.1 255.0.0.0

R1(config)#ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 11.0.0.2 (Static Routing)

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R2(config-if)#ip address 192.168.2.1 255.255.255.0

R2(config)#ip route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1 (Static route for R1)

Let’s configure DHCP on R-1

R1(config)#Service DHCP (To enable DHCP Service if it’s disabled)

R1(config)#IP DHCP POOL PYNETLABS 1

R1(dhcp-config)#NETWORK 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0

R1(config)#IP DHCP EXCLUDED-ADDRESS 192.168.2.2 192.168.2.5

Now, let’s make R-2 the DHCP Relay-Agent.

R2(config-if)#ip helper-address 10.0.0.1

You may also like –

DHCP with IPv6

Question 1 – What is DHCP and why it is used?

Answer – DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is an application layer protocol

Question 2 – What does DHCP and DNS do?

Question 3 – Is DHCP same as IP address?

Answer – IP Address is a combination of numbers used to verify each device connected to

Question 4 – What are the 4 steps of DHCP?

You may also like – Hashing vs Encryption

CCNA Self Paced

CCNP Encor Routing Switching

Cisco DEVIOT 300-915

Cisco Enarsi 300-410

Cisco Lab Rental

Cisco Nexus DC ACI

Cisco SD-WAN Lab Rental