Purpose of DHCP

DHCP is used to allow hosts to automatically/dynamically learn various aspects of their network configuration, such as IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, DNS server, etc, without manual/static configuration.

It is an essential part of modern networks.

• When you connect a phone/laptop to WiFi, do you ask the network admin which IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, etc, the phone/laptop should use?

Typically used for 'client devices' such as workstations (PCs), phones, etc.

Devices such as routers, servers, etc, are usually manually configured.

In small networks (such as home networks) the router typically acts as the DHCP server for hosts in a LAN.

In larger networks, the DHCP server is usually a Windows/Linux server.