# What is Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)?

> Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) automatically supplies hosts with network configuration.

- Canonical URL: https://yellowcube.eu/glossary/dynamic-host-configuration-protocol/
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- Language: en
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## Content

Depending on the protocol version and deployment, this can include an IP address or lease, subnet information, default gateway, DNS resolvers, and other options. DHCP reduces manual configuration and lets administrators manage address use and client settings centrally.

In a common DHCPv4 exchange, a client discovers available servers, receives an offer, requests a configuration, and receives an acknowledgment. Relay agents can carry messages between clients and servers on different subnets. DHCPv6 uses different messages and can provide stateful addresses or other configuration; IPv6 hosts may also obtain addresses through stateless address autoconfiguration.

### Key points

- **Lease lifecycle:** Servers allocate addresses for defined periods and handle renewal, rebinding, release, and reuse according to their configuration.
- **Options:** DHCP can distribute operational parameters, but clients and servers must agree on supported options and their meaning.
- **Network safeguards:** Restrict server and relay paths, permit only authorized DHCP infrastructure, monitor unexpected offers and address use, and apply suitable switch, wireless, segmentation, and access controls.
- **Important limitation:** Base DHCP exchanges do not inherently give every deployment strong mutual authentication. A rogue or spoofed server may provide harmful settings, while exhaustion or misconfiguration can deny leases; RFC 3118 defines DHCPv4 authentication mechanisms, but their availability and use are deployment-dependent.

### Related terms

[IP addressing: static and dynamic addresses](<https://yellowcube.eu/glossary/ip-addressing-static-and-dynamic-addresses/>) · [Dynamic DNS (DDNS)](<https://yellowcube.eu/glossary/dynamic-dns/>) · [Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)](<https://yellowcube.eu/glossary/address-resolution-protocol/>) · [Network access control (NAC)](<https://yellowcube.eu/glossary/network-access-control/>) · [Wireless network](<https://yellowcube.eu/glossary/wireless-network/>)

### Sources

[IETF RFC 2131: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2131) · [IETF RFC 9915: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc9915) · [IETF RFC 3118: Authentication for DHCP Messages](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc3118)

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