6.5 Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

6-46

TCP/IP Configuration Chapter 6

6.5 Dynamic Host Configuration Pr otocol

DHCP is a service much like bootp that provides a method for
assignment and maintenance of IP addresses. The NIC is able to obtain
IP information from this service.
There are two user settable variables related to the DHCP function.
These are accessible in the TCP section of Network Administration, in
the HTML pages.
1. DHCP enable; and
2. Use IP info in NVRAM
a. If DHCP is not enabled, the NIC sends no DHCP requests under
any circumstances. If the NIC does not ha v e an IP address stored,
or if “Use IP info in NVRAM” is OFF, the NIC issues BOOTP
requests, etc.
b . If DHCP is enabled, the NIC sends DHCP requests when the NIC
is reset or on po wer up, provided that the NIC does not ha ve an IP
address stored, or that “Use IP info in NVRAM” is OFF. If the IP
address cannot be obtained by DHCP, an attempt to obtain the IP
address using BOOTP and RARP is made.
c. If DHCP is enabled, and the NIC had an IP address in NVRAM,
and “Use IP info in NVRAM” is ON, then the NIC uses the IP
information from NVRAM and there is no DHCP activity on the
part of the NIC.
The factory default is with both DHCP enable ON and Use IP info in
NVRAM ON. In this case, the NIC issues DHCP requests if it does not
already have IP identification information stored in its NVRAM.

Important!

If DHCP and the NIC is in the default mode (“Use IP info in
NVRAM”= ON), you must establish a permanent lease or reserva-
tion for the NIC in the DHCP server. Failure to do this may cause the
same address to be given out to another host.
PageWorks.book Page 46 Tuesday, August 4, 1998 11:21 AM