Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) uses a client/server protocol to provide configuration parameters to workstations (hosts), usually on the same private subnet as the server. It also includes a mechanism to allocate network addresses. DHCP also provides host-specific configuration parameters from a DHCP server (or collection of DHCP servers) to a workstation.
If the server is configured for DHCP, the server allocates a range of IP addresses for workstations that use the DHCP protocol. When a workstation boots, it requests an IP address assignment and the server provide it. In addition, if the server is configured for DHCP, a client can be informed of its default gateway address and the address of one or more name servers (often including the server's own address) to handle name resolution. If you have configured your server as a router to the Internet with an internal and an external network interface, DHCP configuration applies specifically to the server internal network interface and subnet.
If you have selected one of the Novell® Small Business preconfigured server patterns or installed iManager, you can use the Novell Small Business Setup Role in iManager to help set up DHCP services quickly rather than using the DNS/DHCP Configuration utility or the DHCP role in iManager. Using this tool, you can specify the setup requirements, and then the setup tool modifies all the required files to set up DHCP.
This task helps you set up DHCP services on the server so local workstations can connect and automatically receive IP address, mask, default gateway, and name server addresses.
This task creates objects in the same eDirectoryTM context where the server object is located. It automatically creates a Locator object (DNS/DHCP). If DHCP is chosen, it creates a DHCP_server name object and a DHCP_server name_subnet object.
If you plan to configure DNS, run the Set Up DNS task first so name server information will be defaulted correctly.
To use the setup task in iManager, open iManager, click Small Business Setup > Set Up DHCP, and then follow the on-screen prompts. Make sure the server and printer static IP addresses are not in the range of address allocated for DHCP.
If you need to modify the settings, you can rerun the setup task or use the DNS/DHCP Configuration utility or the DHCP role in iManager to make further modifications to your DHCP configuration.
For more information, see the Novell DNS/DHCP Services for NetWare Administration Guide for OES in the OES NetWare online documentation.