Stands for “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.” DHCP is a protocol that routinely assigns a singular IP tackle to every device that connects to a network. With DHCP, there isn’t any must manually assign IP addresses to new units. Therefore, no person configuration is important to hook up with a DHCP-based network. Because of its ease of use and widespread help, DHCP is the default protocol utilized by most routers and networking tools.
When you connect with a network, your device is taken into account a shopper and the router is the server. In order to efficiently connect with a network through DHCP, the next steps should happen.
- When a shopper detects it has linked to a DHCP server, it sends a DHCPDISCOVER request.
- The router both receives the request or redirects it to the suitable DHCP server.
- If the server accepts the brand new device, it would ship a DHCPOFFER message back to the shopper, which comprises the shopper device’s MAC tackle and the IP tackle being provided.
- The shopper returns a DHCPREQUEST message to the server, confirming it would use the IP tackle.
- Finally, the server responds with a DHCPACK acknowledgement message that confirms the shopper has been given entry (or a “lease”) for a sure period of time.
DHCP works within the background while you connect with a network, so you’ll hardly ever see any of the above steps occur. The time it takes to attach through DHCP relies on the kind of router and the scale of the network, however it normally takes round three to 10 seconds. DHCP works the identical manner for each wired and wi-fi connections, which suggests desktop computer systems, tablets, and smartphones can all connect with a DHCP-based network on the identical time.
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