Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a core networking service that automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network. Without DHCP, administrators would need to manually configure IP addresses for every device — a time‑consuming and error‑prone process, especially in large organizations.
DHCP simplifies configuration management, improves scalability, streamlines IP address allocation, and makes network troubleshooting easier.
This guide walks you through:
- Installing the DHCP Server role
- Understanding the IP addressing used in the example
- Preparing for DHCP scope creation
Understanding the IP Addressing Used
For this demonstration, the following Class C network was used:
- Network: 192.168.70.0 /29
- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.248
- Subnet Range Used: 7th subnet
- Usable IP Range: 192.168.70.49 – 192.168.70.54
- Network Address: 192.168.70.48
- Broadcast Address: 192.168.70.55
A basic understanding of subnetting is recommended before configuring DHCP scopes.
Step 1–10
Use Server Manager → Add Roles and Features to install the DHCP Server role. Proceed through the wizard, confirming selections until installation begins
1: Click on Add roles and Features to begin the installation process. Next, proceed to the following screen
2: Select DHCP Server from the list of roles. After that, click Next to continue.
3: Review the installation details. Then, confirm your selections to move forward
4: Wait for the installation to complete. Once done, click Close to exit the wizard
5: Open Server Manager to verify the DHCP role. From here, navigate to the Tools menu.
6: Click DHCP under Tools. At this point, the DHCP console should open.
7: Click Next
8: Proceed to the next stage
9: Click install and let it install
10 Then, you need to complete the DHCP configuration
11
Step 12–15
Additionally, Once authorization is complete, DHCP will appear on the Server Manager dashboard, confirming successful installation.
12. Hence, you need to provide user’s credential to be used
13: following the provision of user credential, the installation wizard shows you a summary of what you have done.
14: As mentioned in Step 11, two user accounts were created earlier in Active Directory Users and Computers; these accounts will subsequently be used for DHCP delegation.
15 Subsequently, DHCP is showing on dashboard
