SMC Networks SMC7204BRA manual Configuring Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, Overview of Dhcp

CONFIGURING DYNAMIC

HOST CONFIGURATION

PROTOCOL

You can configure your network and ADSL Barricade to use the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). This section provides an overview of DHCP and instructions for implementing it on your network.

Overview of DHCP

What is DHCP?

DHCP is a protocol that enables network administrators to centrally manage the assignment and distribution of IP information

to computers on a network.

When you enable DHCP on a network, you allow a device – such as the ADSL Barricade or a router located with your ISP – to assign temporary IP addresses to your computers whenever they connect to your network. The assigning device is called a DHCP server, and the receiving device is a DHCP client.

Note: If you used the Quick Start instructions, you configured each LAN PC with an IP address, or you specified that it will receive IP information dynamically (automatically). If you chose to have the information assigned dynamically, then you configured your PCs as DHCP clients that will accept IP addresses assigned from a DCHP server such as the ADSL Barricade.

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