DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) automatically assigns IP addresses and other configuration parameters to devices on a network.

Four‑Step Process

  1. Discover – a client broadcasts to locate a DHCP server.
  2. Offer – the server proposes an address and configuration.
  3. Request – the client accepts the offer.
  4. ACK – the server confirms the allocation.
Client
Server
Discover

DHCP simplifies network administration by eliminating manual address configuration and enabling centralized management.

In addition to IP addresses, DHCP can provide default gateways, DNS servers, and lease times. Clients typically renew their leases halfway through the lease period to ensure they keep the same address.

Without DHCP, administrators would need to configure each host individually—a tedious and error‑prone task especially on large networks.