Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a technique used to dynamically manage and configure IP addresses for users in a centralized manner. Even for smaller networks, DHCP makes the subsequent addition of network devices easier and faster.

DHCP supports two mechanisms for IP address allocation, and network administrators can choose different allocation policies for different hosts according to network requirements.

• Dynamic allocation: DHCP assigns an IP address to a client for a limited time (which is usually called a lease).

• This allocation mechanism applies to scenarios where a host needs to be granted temporary access to a network or where the number of free addresses is less than the total number of network hosts and the hosts do not need to be permanently connected to the network.

• Static allocation: a network administrator assigns a permanent IP address to the specified host using DHCP.

• Compared with the manual static configuration of IP addresses, the static allocation using DHCP avoids errors generated during manual configuration and facilitates unified maintenance and management by administrators.

The Athena NGFW device serves as a DHCP server and provides a client with an IP address. Navigate to Network > DHCP > DHCP Options, click Add to enter the Add DHCP Service page, and select Service Type, as shown in the following figure.

Network

Configure network details of DHCP.

Interface: Show all route interfaces, sub-interfaces, and VLAN interfaces on the device. You can set IP addresses allocated through these interfaces separately.

IP Range: Select the range of the assigned IP addresses. If no data is filled in, the IP addresses assigned to the interface will be used by default.

Netmask: The netmask of the assigned IP address.

DHCP Gateway: Enter the DHCP gateway address. If no data is filled in, the interface address will be used as the gateway.

DNS Server: Set the DNS address assigned to the client.

Advanced

Lease: Set the lease for the IP address assigned by the DHCP server.

Preferred WINS: Configure the preferred WINS server address.

Alternate WINS: Configure the alternate WINS server address.

Reserved IP/MAC Address

Set the IP addresses that need to be reserved. Click Add to create an IP address to be reserved.

Custom DHCP Options[sa22]

On the Custom DHCP Options tab, click Add to add a custom DHCP option.

Three types of DHCP options are supported: Hexadecimal, Character String, and IP Address. If the type is set to IP Address, you can specify one or more IP addresses.

After Code, Type, and Value are configured, click Save. Then, the custom DHCP option takes effect.

Custom DHCP options must be configured in strict accordance with the data format specified in relevant RFC standards. Otherwise, data parsing on the client may fail.

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