Step-by-Step Guide to Installing and Configuring DHCP on Windows Server for On-Premises Networks

 

1. What is DHCP?

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It’s like an automatic address manager for devices on a network.

2. Why is it used?

• Automatically gives IP addresses to devices (laptops, phones, printers, etc.) when they connect to the network.
• Tells devices other important info too — like:

• Which gateway to use (to access the internet)
• Which DNS servers to use (to resolve websites)

3. Installation:

1. If you’ve been following this series, you know we are configuring the DHCP server on the Domain Controller (DC) VM, and we’re logged in as an Administrator. The Server Manager dashboard opens by default upon logging into the server. If it doesn’t appear, click the Start menu, search for 'Server Manager', and open it. Then, select 'Add Roles and Features' to begin the configuration.

2. Click Next.

3. Select 'Role-based or feature-based installation' and click Next. 

4. Click Next.

5. Select 'DHCP Server'. When the wizard screen appears, click 'Add Features'.

6. Click Next.

7. Keep the defaults as is. Click Next.

8. Click Next.

9. Click Install.

10. Click Close.

11. Click the notification icon and select 'Complete DHCP Configuration'.

12. Click Next.

13. Click Commit.

14. Click Close.

4. Configuration:

1. Go to Server Manager-Tools-DHCP

2. A scope is a range of IP addresses assigned to computers requesting a dynamic IP address. You must create and configure a scope before dynamic IP addresses can be assigned.

3. Right click IPv4--New Scope.

4. Click Next.

5. Give a suitable name and click Next.

6. Enter the Start and End IP addresses. The Length and Subnet Mask fields are auto populated. Click Next.

7.  I have excluded 3 IPs to ensure the DHCP server does not accidentally assign them to other devices. These IPs must remain static and unique.

• 192.168.1.1 – Default Gateway
• 192.168.1.5 – Domain Controller (DC) VM
• 192.168.1.6 – Entra Connect Server (to be built in the upcoming blog)

8. Click Next.

9. Keep the defaults as is. Click Next.

10. Select Yes and click Next.

11. Add the Default Gateway address and click Next.

12.The parent domain name and IP address are auto populated because the DHCP configuration is being done on the Domain Controller (DC) VM itself. Click 'Next' to continue.

13. Keep the tabs blank. Click Next.

14. Select 'Yes' and click 'Next'.

15. Select Finish.

16. The Address Pool displays the details of the address range and the excluded IP addresses.

17. The Address Leases tab displays a list of IP addresses that have been dynamically assigned to clients by the DHCP server. It includes details such as the IP address, lease expiration time, and the MAC address of the client device.

5. Testing:

1. When you spin up a new VM in the environment, it automatically receives an IP address from the DHCP server.

2. If you now check the Address Leases tab on the DC VM, you can see that the IP address has been leased to the Client VM we just spun up.