dhcp in easy steps

DHCP configuration---Easy Steps

DHCP, or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, allows an administrator to configure network settings for all clients on a central server.
The DHCP clients request an IP address and other network settings from the DHCP server on the network. The DHCP server in turn leases the client an IP address within a given range or leases the client an IP address based on the MAC address of the client'snetwork interface card (NIC). The information includes its IP address, along with the network's name server, gateway, and proxy addresses,including the netmask.
Nothing has to be configured manually on the local system, except to specify the DHCP server it should get its network configuration from. If an IP address is assigned according to the MAC address of the client's NIC, the same IP address can be leased to the client every time the client requests one. DHCP makes network administration easier and less prone to error.

Configure dhcp server

In this example we will configure a dhcp server and will lease ip address to clients.
For this example we are using three systems one linux server one linux clients and one window clients.

dhcp rpm is required to configure dhcp server. check it if not found then install

[root@server ~]#rpm -qa dhcp

dhcp-3.0.5-7.el5

[root@server ~]# 

Now check dhcpd service in system service, it should be on.

#setup
Select System service from list
[*]dhcpd

TO ASSIGN IP TO DHCP SERVER

DHCP SERVER HAVE A STATIC A IP ADDRESS. FIRST CONFIGURE THE IP ADDRESS 192.168.0.254 WITH NETMASK OF 255.255.255.0 ON SERVER.

RUN SETUP COMMAND FORM ROOT USER 

 #SETUP

THIS WILL LAUNCH A NEW WINDOW SELECTNETWORK CONFIGURATION.

 NOW A NEW WINDOW WILL SHOW YOU ALL AVAILABLE LAN CARD SELECT YOUR LAN CARD ( IF YOU DON’T SEE ANY LAN CARD HERE MEAN YOU DON’T HAVE INSTALL DRIVER).

 ASSIGN IP IN THIS BOX AND CLICK OK.

  CLICK ON OK, QUIT AND AGAIN QUIT TO COME BACK ON ROOT PROMPT.RESTART THE NETWORK SERVICE SO NEW IP ADDRESS CAN TAKE PLACE ON LAN CARD. 

#service network restart

main configuration file of dhcp server is dhcpd.conf. This file located on /etcdirectory. If this file is not present there or you have corrupted this file, then copy new file first, if ask for overwrite press y.

 now open /etc/dhcpd.conf using this command.

 [root@server ~]#vi /etc/dhcpd.conf

 DEFAULT ENTRY IN THIS FILE LOOK LIKE THIS 

 MAKE THESE CHANGE IN THIS FILE TO CONFIGUREDHCP SERVER

 REMOVE THIS LINE

# - - - DEFAULT GATEWAY 

SET OPTION ROUTERS TO 192.168.0.254 

SET OPTION SUBNET-MASK TO 255.255.255.0 

OPTION NIS DOMAIN TO EXAMPLE.COM 

OPTION DOMAIN-NAME TO EXAMPLE.COM

OPTION DOMAIN-NAME-SERVERS TO 192.168.0.254 

RANGE DYNAMIC-BOOTP TO 192.168.0.10 192.168.0.50;

AFTER CHANGE THIS FILE SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS 

AFTER MAKING NECESSARY CHANGE SAVE FILE AND EXIT. 

NOW CREATE A BLANK FILE USE TO STORE THE ALLOCATED IP ADDRESS INFORMATION

NOW RESTART DHCPD SERVICE AND ON IT WITHCHKCONFIG COMMANDS.

 THAT'S IT.

CLIENT CONFIGURATION IS VERY EASY AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SET IP ADDRESS TO DYNAMIC IN THE PROPERTIES OF LAN CARD. IF YOUR CLIENT SYSTEM IS GETTING IP ADDRESS AS YOU CONFIGURE IN DHCPD.CONF. YOUR DHCP SERVER IS WORKING FINE. ELSE KINDLY REVIEW THIS ARTICLE AGIAN.

THANKS,