Configuring Microsoft standard DHCP options in DDI Central

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) options are additional settings that a DHCP server can provide to clients along with their IP address assignment. These options help configure various network parameters for the client devices. In Microsoft DHCP, these options are defined by standards and can be customized according to network requirements.

Microsoft DHCP offers a variety of options and configurations to tailor the DHCP service to specific network requirements. Here are some key options available in Microsoft DHCP:

Overview of general DHCP options

1. Scope Options:
• IP Address Range: Defines the range of IP addresses available for lease to clients.
• Lease Duration: Specifies the length of time an IP address is leased to a client.
• Exclusions: Sets aside specific IP addresses within the scope range that should not be leased to clients.
• Reservations: Allocates specific IP addresses to particular devices based on their MAC address.
2. Client Options:
• Router (Default Gateway): Specifies the default gateway for DHCP clients.
• DNS Servers: Defines the DNS servers that clients should use.
• DNS Domain Name: Specifies the DNS domain name for the network.
• WINS/NBNS Servers: Indicates the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) servers for name resolution.
3. Advanced Options:
• Vendor Class Options: Provides DHCP options specific to vendor-defined classes.
• User Class Options: Allows for custom options based on user-defined classes.
• Policies: Configures DHCP policies for more granular control over DHCP behavior.

Failover Options

1. Failover configuration:
• Load Balance Mode: Distributes DHCP requests between two servers to share the load.
• Hot Standby Mode: Designates one server as the active server and the other as the standby server, which takes over if the active server fails.
2. Failover relationship settings:
• State Switchover Interval: Defines the time interval after which a server will declare its partner down if no communication is detected.
• Maximum Client Lead Time (MCLT): Specifies the maximum amount of time one server can extend a lease for a client beyond the lease time known to its partner.
• Load Balance Percentage: In load balance mode, it determines the percentage of traffic each server handles.
• Shared Secret: A password used to authenticate failover communication between servers.

Management Options

1. Authorization:
• Ensures that only authorized DHCP servers can operate in an Active Directory domain to prevent rogue DHCP servers from distributing IP addresses.
2. Backup and restore:
• Provides options for backing up and restoring the DHCP database to safeguard against data loss and enable recovery.
3. Monitoring and logging:
• Offers tools for monitoring DHCP server activity and logging events for auditing and troubleshooting purposes.
4. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):
• Allows administrators to define roles and permissions to control who can manage DHCP settings and perform administrative tasks.

IPv6 Support

1. Prefix delegation:
• Enables the DHCP server to assign IPv6 prefixes to clients, allowing them to further delegate sub-prefixes.
2. Stateless and stateful configuration:
• Supports both stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC) and stateful DHCPv6 for assigning IPv6 addresses and configuration options to clients.

These options and features allow network administrators to customize and optimize DHCP services to meet the specific needs of their network environments, ensuring efficient and reliable IP address management.

Access the complete list of standard DHCP options here.

Implementing Microsoft standard DHCP options in DDI Central

To Configure DHCP options:



• Get into the DHCP module.

• Standard DHCP options can be applied at the scope level or policy level or server level. Navigate to the required section:

  Scope level: Navigate to DHCP-> Network->Subnet. Open the subnet of your choice in the Edit mode or create one. Find the Options tab at the extreme bottom and select the Vendor class that fits your requirements.

  Policy level: Navigate to DHCP-> Network->Policy. Open the Policy of your choice in the Edit mode or create one. Find the Options tab at the extreme bottom and select the Vendor class that fits your requirements.

  Network->Config within the DHCP module to program the DHCP server level configurations. Navigate to the Options tab and select the Vendor class that fits your requirements. Once the Vendor Class is chosen, the Options drop-down list box displays the list of already defined options under that vendor class. Select the relevant option and go to the Value section to enter the required value for the chosen option. Enter the value(s) for the options' parameter(s). Click the Add button after each entry. If you are within the Scope level or Policy level, when you are done with the selection, click Save to finalize the configurations