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JSI Tip 4482. How do I configure a Windows 2000 DHCP server in a workgroup?
Jerold Schulman
November 25, 2001
4 Min Read
NOTE: The text in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article is provided so that the site search can find this page. Please click the Knowledge Base link to insure that you are reading the most current information.
Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q301187 contains:
IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
Installing the DHCP Service
To Install the DHCP Service on an Existing Server
Configuring the DHCP Service
To Create a New Scope
Troubleshooting
Clients Cannot Obtain an IP Address
The DHCP Server Is Unavailable
SUMMARY
This step-by-step guide describes how to configure a new Windows 2000-based Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server on a standalone server to provide centralized management of IP addresses and other TCP/IP configuration settings for the client computers on a network.
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Installing the DHCP Service
Before you can configure the DHCP service, you must install it on the server. DHCP is not installed by default during a typical installation of Windows 2000 Server or Windows 2000 Advanced Server. You can install DHCP either during the initial installation of Windows 2000 or after the initial installation is finished.
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To Install the DHCP Service on an Existing Server
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Add/Remove Programs, and then click Add/Remove Windows Components.
In the Windows Components Wizard, in the Components list, click Networking Services, and then click Details.
In the Networking Services dialog box, select the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) check box if it is not already selected, and then click OK.
In the Windows Components Wizard, click Next to start Windows 2000 Setup. Insert the Windows 2000 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive if you are prompted. Setup copies the DHCP server and tool files to your computer.
When Setup is completed, click Finish.
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Configuring the DHCP Service
After you have installed the DHCP service and started it, you must create a scope, which is a range of valid IP addresses that are available for lease to the DHCP client computers on the network. Each DHCP server in your environment should have at least one scope that does not overlap with any other DHCP server scope in your environment. In Windows 2000, DHCP servers in an Active Directory-based domain environment must be authorized to prevent rogue DHCP servers from coming online. Windows 2000 shuts down any unauthorized DHCP servers that it finds.
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To Create a New Scope
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DHCP.
In the console tree, right-click the DHCP server on which you want to create the new DHCP scope, and then click New Scope.
In the New Scope Wizard, click Next, and then type a name and description for the scope. This can be any name that you want, but it should be descriptive enough so that you can identify the purpose of the scope on your network (for example, you could use a name such as "Administration Building Client Addresses").
Type the range of addresses that can be leased as part of this scope (for example, use a range of IP addresses from a starting IP address of 192.168.100.1 to an ending address of 192.168.100.100). Because these addresses are given to clients, they must all be valid addresses for your network and not currently be in use. If you want to use a different subnet mask, type the new subnet mask
If you are using Domain Name System (DNS) servers on your network, type your organization's domain name in the Parent domain box. Type the name of your DNS server, and then click Resolve to ensure that your DHCP server can contact the DNS server and determine its address. Click Add to include that server in the list of DNS servers that are assigned to the DHCP clients. Click Next.
Click Yes, I want to activate this scope now to activate the scope and allow clients to obtain leases from it, and then click Next.
Click Finish.
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Troubleshooting
The following sections describe how to troubleshoot some of the issues that you may have when you try to install and configure a Windows 2000-based DHCP server in a workgroup.
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Clients Cannot Obtain an IP Address
If a DHCP client does not have a configured IP address, this typically indicates that the client was not able to contact a DHCP server. This can be caused by a network problem, or if the DHCP server is unavailable. If the DHCP server started and other clients can obtain valid addresses, verify that the client has a valid network connection and that all the related client hardware devices (including cables and network adapters) are working properly.
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The DHCP Server Is Unavailable
If a DHCP server does not provide leased addresses to clients, it is often because the DHCP service did not start. If this is the case, the server may not be authorized to operate on the network. If you were previously able to start the DHCP service, but it has since stopped, use Event Viewer to check the System log for any entries that may explain the cause.
To restart the DHCP service:
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type cmd, and then press ENTER.
Type net start dhcpserver, and then press ENTER.
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