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| The TCP/IP protocols provide transport services for the majority of the local area and wide area networks in existence today. Windows 2000 systems use TCP/IP as their default networking protocol. The scaleability of TCP/IP enables you to build networks of almost any size and complexity, and its all-but-universal compatibility enables you to run virtually any operating system on your network workstations. |
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| To function on a TCP/IP network, every computer must have at least one IP address. An IP address is a 32-bit numerical sequence that uniquely identifies the system on the network. The IP address is expressed as four decimal numbers ranging from 0 to 255, separated by periods, as in 192.168.2.15. Part of the process of installing TCP/IP on a computer is supplying an IP address that is unique to that computer. |
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| In addition to the IP address, there are other TCP/IP parameters that must be configured for a computer to communicate on the network. These include the addresses of the DNS servers used to resolve system names into IP addresses and the routers used to transmit data from the local network to distant networks. |
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| Originally, the TCP/IP client configuration process was strictly manual. Network administrators not only had to manually configure the client settings of each computer individually, but they also had to keep track of the IP addresses assigned to each machine. This was necessary to prevent two computers from being configured to use the same IP address, which would prevent both from functioning properly. On a large network with hundreds or thousands of computers, these tasks could be enormous. |
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| The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) was developed to automate the TCP/IP client configuration process and maintain records of the IP addresses assigned to each computer. DHCP is a client/server application that leases IP addresses to workstations for a given period of time and periodically renews the leases as needed. If you move a workstation to another subnet, its original lease is allowed to expire and a new one is negotiated for a different IP address. |
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| All of the Windows OSes have a DHCP client. The client side of the DHCP application transmits broadcast messages whenever the operating system starts, requesting an IP address assignment from any available DHCP server. After it receives replies, the client system accepts the address offered by one of the servers, along with any other options the server is configured to supply, and configures its TCP/IP client. The client system then begins to communicate using that address. |
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| The Microsoft DHCP Server is included with the Windows 2000 (and NT) Server operating system. The server application runs as a service on the Windows 2000 Server continuously listening for and responding to the IP address requests generated by clients. Before the DHCP server can supply addresses and other settings to clients, an administrator must first configure it by creating a scope, that is, a range of addresses assigned to that server for distribution. |
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