Dynamic Host configuration Protocol

Dynamic Host configuration Protocol (DHCP) allows configuring dynamic assignment of IP addresses and network parameters to hosts which are necessary for a host computer to communicate on an IP network. The benefits of using DHCP are that a network administrator is not required to re-address machines moving from one location to another, nor is a network administrator required to manually configure all IP options for each machine joining the network.A DHCP-enabled machine joining the IP network sends out an IP broadcast message asking for an address, and obtains a valid IP address for the network as well as any other needed configuration options associated with the given address.
The DHCP Server in Windows Server 2003 and 2008 as well earlier versions (2000) consists of several aspects including but not limited to: a service process, several management tools , and a database that tracks IP addresses and the machines to which they are given.

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