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DHCP automates IP address
network assignment and administration, and may reduce the number of
IP addresses that a site may require. A DHCP client can
automatically discover and incorporate local configuration
parameters without user intervention. In turn, the network manager
need not enter per-client configuration parameters. DHCP is
especially useful for mobile users who need part-time network
access.
A DHCP server also services existing
Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP) clients with no client modifications.
There are two primary differences between DHCP and BOOTP:
- DHCP provides a mechanism whereby
clients can request and receive an IP address for a certain
period of time, called a finite lease in the RFC.
This allows for addresses to be reused when their lease expires,
thereby conserving IP addresses that are in scarce supply.
- DHCP provides a mechanism for a
client to acquire all the IP-configuration parameters that it
needs in order to operate.
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