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Using DHCP

About DHCP

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is the successor to bootp and variants that provides a means to automatically configure client network settings. DHCP can maintain a pool of IP addresses and "lease" individual addresses on a per demand basis. In Physics we use DHCP in a static configuration to provide permanent IP addresses to clients who have registered (via the Network form) their computer network interface card MAC addresses with us.

Operating systems that support DHCP

Most modern operating systems support DHCP, as do older ones that can use recent TCP/IP stack implementations. It is worth noting that many preinstalled operating systems are by default configured to use DHCP and as such no configuration is necessary. Below is a list of the operating systems that can support DHCP, along with brief configuration instructions.

Choose an operating system:

MS Windows 3.11 for Workgroups

MS Windows 95 and 98

  • Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel

  • Double click Network in the Control Panel window

  • Double click the TCP/IP protocol menu item for your network adaptor

  • Click the IP Address tab and check the Obtain an IP address automatically radio button.

  • Click the OK button and restart the computer when directed

Windows 2000/XP

  • Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panels

  • Double click Network in the Control Panels window

  • Click the Protocols tab

  • Double click TCP/IP

  • Click the TCP/IP Properties button. Select Obtain an IP address from a DHCP server.

  • Click the OK button and restart the computer when directed.

MacOS Classic (Open Transport)

  • From the Apple Menu choose Control Panels

  • Select TCP/IP from the Control Panels drop down menu

  • From the TCP/IP control panel Setup pane click the Configure drop down menu and select Using DHCP Server.

  • Close the TCP/IP control panel and then click the Save button when prompted to save changes to the current configuration.

Linux

Products such as dhcpclient and pump typically facilitate DHCP under *NIX variants such as Linux and *BSD. Most modern *NIX systems come with DHCP support enabled or selectable at installation.

FreeBSD

  • Edit /etc/rc.conf:

    ifconfig_<INTERFACE_NAME>="DHCP"

    Insert your primary network interface card (NIC) device name at <INTERFACE_NAME>. Your primary NIC is the device not called LO0 or TUN0. For example, if the ifconfig command at the system console reports fxp0 as your primary NIC:

    ifconfig_fxp0="DHCP"

  • Reboot
Refer to the FreeBSD Handbook for details regarding network interface configuration (see in particular the section titled Setting Up Network Interface Cards).

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