Introduction
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, and it is a protocol that helps allocate a dynamic, random, and valid IP address to clients in a local network, which is very important.
DHCP Process
DHCP helps allocate IP address by following four steps, known as DORA:
1. DHCP Discover (D): The client sends a DHCP Discover message to the network to locate any available DHCP servers.
2. DHCP Offer (O): The DHCP server responds with a DHCP Offer message, proposing an IP address for the client.
3. DHCP Request (R): The client sends a DHCP Request message to the server, indicating that it accepts the offered IP address.
4. DHCP Acknowledge (A): The server replies with a DHCP Acknowledge message, confirming that the IP address is now assigned to the client.
Clearer View as a Conversation
Client: “Hey, is there a DHCP server in the network?”
DHCP Server: “Yes, How about this address for you?”
Client: “Yes, that works!”
DHCP Server: “Great, It’s yours for now.”
Working
Some info you need to know:
At first, the client does not have an IP address to communicate with the DHCP server, and it also does not know the DHCP server’s IP address. You might wonder, how does this process work, then?
Here’s How:
When a client connects to a network, it initially has a source IP address of 0.0.0.0, which is used to search for a DHCP server. Since the client does not know the DHCP server’s IP address, it sends a DHCPDISCOVER message to the broadcast IP address 255.255.255.255. This message is received by all devices on the network and one of them will be a DHCP server, which then responds, allowing the client to obtain an IP address.
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