Dell PowerConnect 28xx Systems User Guide 83Defining DHCP Server SettingsThe DHCP server is used mainly for centralized control over assignment of IP addresses to attachedhosts.A switch can operate as either a DHCP client (obtaining its own IP from a DHCP server) as a DHCPserver.The DHCP server uses a fined pool of IP addresses (user-defined) from which it allocates IP addresses toDHCP clients.The DHCP server can allocate IP addresses in three configuration modes:• Static allocation — The network administrator maps the hardware address of a host to an IP addresson the DHCP server.• Permanent allocation — An IP address received through a standard request-reply mechanism is ownedby a client permanently (unless changes in the network environment/connections take place, for anyreason).• Dynamic allocation — A network device obtains a leased IP address for a specified period of time. TheIP address is revoked at the end of this period and the switch must request another IP address.This section contains information for configuring a DHCP server on a DHCP-server-enabled switch.To open the DHCP Server page, click System DHCP Server in the tree view.Configuring DHCP PropertiesThe DHCP Server Properties page contains fields for enabling the DHCP server and configuring pingingcapability. The DHCP Server pings a pool address before assigning this address to a requesting client. Ifthe ping is unanswered, the DHCP Server assumes (with a high probability) that the address is not in useand assigns the address to the requesting client. To open the DHCP Server Properties page, click System DHCP Server DHCP Server Properties in the tree view.
