Summary

DHCP provides an easy way to configure IP addresses and other configuration settings for client computers. It is especially useful when changes occur; for instance, if you change ISPs, you will need to change your TCP/IP configuration. If your company has 5,000 manually configured computers spread over 10 states, making this change can be an expensive and time-consuming process. However, with a DHCP server, you can effect this change by simply changing the settings on the DHCP servers. The next time each DHCP client renews its IP address, it will receive the IP addresses for the new DNS servers.

This hour also examined Network Address Translation (NAT) and zero configuration protocols.