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You don't have to be an Internet engineer or IT network administrator to use and understand DHCP, but it helps. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) simplifies the management of a network of Internet-connected computers. It's a method for assigning Internet Protocol (IP) addresses permanently or on the fly to individual computers in an organization's network. In order to connect to the Net, every device needs a numeric identifier -- an IP address. Chances are you've seen IP addresses displayed when you set up your Internet dial-up connection or while web surfing. Computers in a company often change locations within a building, and network configurations change. It's cumbersome
to assign a fresh new IP address every time an employee moves to a different cubicle, especially since other rules restrict IP address allocation. Machines don't need static, unchanging IP addresses unless they are web servers (computers that "publish" or "host" web pages). DHCP makes the process of assigning new IP addresses fairly painless. It's not easy to explain DHCP without falling fast into the acronym jungle. There are a couple of sites we visit often for guidance. Webopedia is an online dictionary that offers succinct, easy-to-understand definitions of Internet and computer terms. Whatis.com
targets its entries at a more tech-savvy audience. Here are some quick definitions related to DHCP and networking terminology: - Protocol - "an agreed upon format for transmitting data between two devices."
- IP - stands for Internet Protocol - the way in which packets of data are addressed and sent across the Internet.
- IP address - "The format of an IP address is a 32-bit numeric address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be zero to 255. For example, 1.160.10.240 could be an IP address."
- Web server
- a computer that delivers or "serves up" web pages which are then viewed in web browsers. Requires an Internet connection, server software, an IP address, and a domain name.
If you're an intrepid home networker and you need to connect more than one computer to a broadband DSL or cable modem Internet connection, do yourself a favor and read Webmonkey's DHCP Primer. It will guide you past the gnarly protocols and towards user-friendly, all-in-one hardware devices that can connect the computers in your home and let them share a single high-speed Internet connection. Just remember, home networking may not be rocket science, but we never said it was going to be easy either.
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