Setup

DHCP

What DHCP Does

A DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Server allocates a valid IP address to a DHCP Client (PC or device) upon request.

∙The client request is made when the client device starts up (boots).

∙The DHCP Server provides the Gateway and DNS addresses to the client, as well as allocating an IP Address.

∙The Broadband Router can act as a DHCP server.

∙Windows 95/98/ME and other non-Server versions of Windows will act as a DHCP client. This is the default Windows setting for the TCP/IP network protocol. How- ever, Windows uses the term Obtain an IP Address automatically instead of "DHCP Client".

∙You must NOT have two (2) or more DHCP Servers on the same LAN segment. (If your LAN does not have other Routers, this means there must only be one (1) DHCP Server on your LAN.)

Using the Broadband Router's DHCP Server

This is the default setting. The DHCP Server settings are on the LAN screen. On this screen, you can:

∙Enable or Disable the Broadband Router's DHCP Server function.

∙Set the range of IP Addresses allocated to PCs by the DHCP Server function.

You can assign Fixed IP Addresses to some devices while using DHCP, provided that the Fixed IP Addresses are NOT within the range used by the DHCP Server.

Using another DHCP Server

You can only use one (1) DHCP Server per LAN segment. If you wish to use another DHCP Server, rather than the Broadband Router's, the following procedure is required.

1.Disable the DHCP Server feature in the Broadband Router. This setting is on the LAN screen.

2.Configure the DHCP Server to provide the Broadband Router's IP Address as the Default Gateway.

To Configure your PCs to use DHCP

This is the default setting for TCP/IP under Windows 95/98/ME.

See Chapter 4 - Client Configuration for the procedure to check these settings.

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