Introduction

The TCP/IP protocol is an Active Directory operational requirement. This means that all computers on a Windows 2000 network require a unique IP address to communicate with the Active Directory. Static IP addresses can add a lot of administrative overhead. Not only can management of static IP addresses become time consuming, but such management also increases the chances of misconfigured parameters. Imagine having to manually type 10,000 IP addresses and not make a single error. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol ( DHCP ) can be implemented to centralize the administration of IP addresses. Through DHCP, many of the tasks associated with IP addressing can be automated. However, implementing DHCP also introduces some security issues because anyone with physical access to the network can plug in a laptop and obtain IP information about the internal network.

In this chapter, you'll learn how to implement a DHCP server, including the installation process, authorization of the server, and the configuration of DHCP scopes. The chapter ends by looking at how to manage a DHCP server and monitor its performance.