Glossary

DHCPDynamic Host Configuration Protocol

DHCP handles the automatic assignment of IP addresses to network components. It was developed because in large networks – especially the Internet – the defining of IP addresses is very complex as participants frequently move, drop out or new ones join. A DHCP Server automatically assigns the connected network components (DHCP Clients ) Dynamic IP addresses from a defined IP pool range thus saving a great deal of configuration work. In addition, the address blocks can be used more effectively: since not all participants are on the network at the same time, the same IP address can be assigned to different network components in succession as and when required.

The Gigaset SX541 WLAN dsl includes a DHCP server and uses it to assign automatic IP addresses to PCs in the local network. You can specify that the IP addresses for certain PCs are never changed.

DHCP ServerSee DHCPDMZDemilitarised Zone

DMZ describes a part of a network that is outside the Firewall. A DMZ is set up, as it were, between a network you want to protect (for example a LAN) and an insecure network (for example the Internet). A DMZ is useful if you want to offer Server services on the Internet which for security reasons are not to be run from behind the firewall or if Internet applications do not work properly behind a firewall. A DMZ permits unrestricted access from the Internet to only one or a few network components, while the other network components remain secure behind the firewall.

DNSDomain Name System

The assignment of DNS permits IP addresses to computers or Domain names that are easier to remember. A DNS server must administer this information for each LAN with an Internet connection. As soon as a page on the Internet is called up, the browser obtains the corresponding IP address from the DNS Server so that it can establish the connection.

The assignment of domain names to IP addresses on the Internet follows a hierarchical system. A local PC only knows the address of the local Name Server. This in turn knows all the addresses of the PCs in the local network and the superordinated Name Servers, which again know addresses and the next superordinated Name Servers.

DNS serverSee DNSDomain name

The Domain name is the reference to one or more Web servers on the Internet. The Domain name is mapped via the DNS service to the corresponding IP address.

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