Network > DHCP Server
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SonicOS Enhanced 4.0 Administrator Guide
The SonicWALL security appliance includes a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
server to distribute IP addresses, subnet masks, gateway addresses, and DNS server
addresses to your network clients. The Network > DHCP Server page includes settings for
configuring the SonicWALL security appliance’s DHCP server.
You can use the SonicWALL security appliance’s DHCP server or use existing DHCP servers
on your network. If your network uses its own DHCP servers, make sure the Enable DHCP
Server checkbox is unchecked.
The number of address ranges and IP addresses the SonicWALL DHCP server can assign
depends on the model, operating system, and licenses of the SonicWALL security appliance.
For example, on a SonicWALL TZ 170 SP Wireless running SonicOS Enhanced, the
SonicWALL DHCP Server can assign a total of 64 address ranges with 64 IP addresses each
or a total of 4,096 IP addresses.
DHCP Server Options Overview
This section provides an introduction to DHCP server options feature. This section contains the
following subsections:
• “What Is the SonicWALL DHCP Server Options Feature?” on page 278
• “Benefits” on page 279
• “How Does the SonicWALL DHCP Server Options Feature Work?” on page 279
• “Supported Standards” on page 279

What Is the SonicWALL DHCP Server Options Feature?

The SonicWALL DHCP server options feature provides support for DHCP options, also known
as vendor extensions, as defined primarily in RFCs 2131 and 2132. DHCP options allow users
to specify additional DHCP parameters in the form of pre-defined, vendor-specific information
that is stored in the options field of a DHCP message. When the DHCP message is sent to