Introduction to DHCP

DHCP, the abbreviation for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, is designed to allocate appropriate IP addresses and related network parameters for subnetworks automatically, thus reducing requirement on network administration. Besides, DHCP can avoid address conflict to assure the re-allocation of idle resources.

Hillstone devices support DHCP client, DHCP server and DHCP relay proxy.

• DHCP client: A Hillstone device's interface can be configured as a DHCP client and obtain IP addresses from the DHCP server. For more information on configuring a DHCP client, see Configuring an Interface.
• DHCP server: A Hillstone device's interface can be configured as a DHCP server and allocate IP addresses chosen from the configured address pool for the connected hosts.
• DHCP relay proxy: A Hillstone device's interface can be configured as a DHCP relay proxy to obtain DHCP information from the DHCP server and forward the information to connected hosts.
  

Hillstone devices are designed with all the above three DHCP functions, but an individual interface can be only configured with one of the above functions.