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Assigning IP addresses is not an easy task, and a human admin might get confused in the process. This confusion would result in the loss of an internet connection for someone. But DHCP comes to the rescue in this case.
Paulius Ilevičius
Apr 12, 2022 · 3 min read
DHCP (or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network management protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and other communication parameters to devices connected to a network. For example, a router usually acts as a DHCP server in most home networks. It assigns IP addresses to your devices.
DHCP makes the work of network administrators easy. If it didn’t exist, they would have to assign IP addresses manually, which would be inefficient, time-consuming, and error prone.
When a device joins a network, it requests an IP address. The request then travels to a DHCP server. A server assigns an address, monitors its usage, and takes it back after the device is shut down. The same IP address can then be reassigned to another device. A device can use this address to communicate with internal and public networks.
DHCP servers also provide DHCP parameters, also known as DHCP options. They describe various factors of IP addresses; for example, how long they can be used. DHCP options usually define:
DHCP has three methods of IP address allocation:
Reasons we use DHCP:
DHCP doesn’t have any authentication, so it is vulnerable to cyberattacks. DHCP can be exploited in the following ways:
All these issues can result in DDoS and man-in-the-middle attacks. However, admins can reduce the risk by using the relay agent information option and tagging DHCP messages when they arrive. They can also use network access control to protect DHCP.
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