Imagine DHCP as the manager of an apartment building. When a new tenant (device) moves in, the manager (DHCP) assigns them an apartment number (IP address) and provides important information such as the location of communications (network configurations).
DHCP Lease Process
The DHCP lease process consists of four steps: Discover, Offer, Request, and Confirm. When the device connects to the network, it sends a “Discover” message to find a DHCP server. The server then sends an “Offer” message with an IP address. The device “requests” this address, and the server “confirms” this request, completing the lease.
Comparison of DHCP and static IP addressing
Before DHCP, network administrators had to manually assign IP addresses to each device, a process called static IP addressing. This was time consuming and error prone.
Comparing DHCP to static IP addressing is like comparing an automatic car to a manual car. Although both cars can get you to your destination, an automated car (DHCP) requires less effort and skill to drive than a manual car (static IP addressing).
Benefits of DHCP
DHCP has several advantages. It simplifies network administration, reduces configuration errors, and ensures efficient use of IP addresses by reassigning them when they are no longer in use.
In addition, DHCP supports networks of various sizes, from small home networks to large enterprise networks, making it a versatile solution for network management.
