Configuring the Switch

Configuring the Switch

IP Configuration

 

DHCP/Bootp Operation

 

Overview

 

The DHCP/Bootp switch configuration option is used to download configura-

 

tion data from a DHCP or Bootp server to the switch. With DHCP you can have

 

the switch automatically retrieve the IP address with no configuration

 

required on either the switch or the DHCP server. A Bootp server requires

 

some configuration, but you can additionally identify a file to be downloaded

 

to the switch containing a full switch configuration.

 

 

N o t e

The Switch 212M and Switch 224M are compatible with both DHCP and Bootp

 

servers.

 

Once the switch acquires an IP configuration from either a DHCP or Bootp

 

server, it displays the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway information in

 

the IP Configuration screen.

 

The DHCP/Bootp Process

 

 

Whenever the IP Config parameter in the switch is configured to DHCP/Bootp

 

(the default), or when the switch is rebooted with this configuration:

 

1. DHCP/Bootp requests are automatically broadcast on all local networks.

 

(The switch sends one type of request that either a DHCP or Bootp server

 

can process.)

 

2. When a DHCP or Bootp server receives the request, it replies with an

 

automatically generated IP address and subnet mask for the switch. The

 

switch also receives an IP Gateway address if the server has been config-

 

ured to provide one. In the Bootp case, the server must first be configured

 

with an entry that has the MAC address of the switch.

 

The switch properly handles replies from either type of server. If multiple

 

replies are returned, the switch tries to use the first DHCP reply.

 

If the switch does not receive a reply to its DHCP/Bootp requests, it continues

 

to periodically send request packets, but with decreasing frequency. Thus, if

 

a DHCP or Bootp server is not available or accessible to the switch when

 

DHCP/Bootp is first configured, the switch may not immediately receive the

 

desired configuration. After verifying that the server has become accessible

 

to the switch, reboot the switch to re-start the process.

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