DHCP or Dynamic Host configuration Protocol is a network infrastructure service that provides IP addressing information to PC clients and other TCP/IP-based machines and network devices. The purpose of DHCP is to dynamically and automaticaly assign IP addresses and network settings to devices on computer network simplifying network configuration and avoiding the issues that static IP addressing can create. DHCP Server installation Installation of a DHCP server on a server that runs Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system, can be done by going to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Server Manager. To install DHCP server simple follow these steps: 1. Open Server Manager and click on Roles > Add Roles link, and proceed with the next: 2. In the Select Server Roles, select DHCP server, and then click Next: 3. Network cards and static IP addresses are automatically detected. Here it's possible to choose how DHCP will service clients on different subnets. Next ... 4. Specify the applicable DNS server(s) addresses to be provided to clients when an address is assigned: (If used, WINS server settings can be specified on the Next screen.) 5. Select the range of IP addresses and specify the appropriate scope options depending on the size and type of network and the amount of users that addresses will be assigned to: (Activate this scope checkbox. You can have multiple scopes.) 6. If IPv6 supports is needed, enable this functionality on your network, otherwise disable it: 7. Authorizing your DHCP server allows you to prevent hackers from configuring rogue DHCP servers: 8. If configuration settings are correct, continue with Install: (Once DHCP installed, it can be managed from the DHCP MMC snap-in located in Administrative tools) Creating reservations By creating a reservation, it's ensured that a client machine always receives the same IP address from the DHCP server. To create new reservation in DCHP MMC snap-in Right-click on Reservations and choose new reservation. Enter a friendly name and the IP address you want to assign to the computer or device by specifying phisical or MAC address of client. (On Windows machines, MAC address can be found by running ipconfig/all from the command prompt.) Creating exclusions In addition to specifying reservations on DHCP server, it is also possible to specify exclusions. By creating exclusions, it's ensured that client machines never receive a DHCP lease for that range of IP addresses. This is useful if addresses specified in exclusion range are assigned staticaly, for example to routers and gateways. In order tp create create exclusion range, in DHCP MMC snap-in right-click on Address Pools and choose New Exclusion Range: After entering start and End IP address, exclusion range can be seen in DCHP MMC snap-in: Source:DHCP installation and configuration tutorial, Dynamic Host configuration Protocol, IT Tutorials, Microsoft tutorials, (ICT) Information Technology Tutorials