Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network protocol which is used to assign the IP Address dynamically on any nodes , End-Points or any devices.
DHCP automates and centrally manages these configurations rather than requiring network administrators to manually assign IP addresses to all network devices.
DHCP runs at the application layer of the TCP/IP stack. It dynamically assigns IP addresses to DHCP clients and allocates TCP/IP configuration information to DHCP clients.
DHCP servers have a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port number of 67, so listen for messages addressed to this port number. DHCP clients have the UDP port number 68 and only respond to messages sent to number 68.
Components of DHCP :-
- DHCP Server
- DHCP Client
- DHCP Relay
- IP Address Pool
- Lease
- Subnet