In the world of networking, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are so crucial that one cannot connect to any network without one. It is also important to understand that the way a network administrator configures their Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server has a huge impact on network performance. While some people pay too much attention to the design of the network cabling, it is worth noting that the infrastructure must work in unison with the DHCP server to achieve optimal results when it comes to network connectivity.
What are the important things to consider when managing DHCP servers?
The DHCP server is responsible for leasing addresses to all devices that connect to the network. As a result, any errors in the configuration of this server could cause the entire network to be down. Here are some vital points to keep in mind:
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The starting and ending IP address pool of the DHCP server
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Manage IP address reservations
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Keep your static IP addresses well monitored
Determining the first address that your server can lease is important, as it will give you the opportunity to determine the number of devices that can enter your network segment at any one time. Depending on the number of devices, you can consciously determine their subnet mask.
Devices hosting shares must always have static IP addresses. This is important because it gives the network administrator an easy time connecting other users to the resource. If you have a share whose address is constantly changing, your system or network administrator will have a difficult time reconnecting users each time the DHCP server rents new addresses.
Tips for managing static IP addresses
The first thing a sysadmin should make sure is that static IP addresses are not leased to other devices on the network besides the chosen device. This means that the network administrator must ensure that such addresses are reserved in addition to ensuring that they are above or below the lease range of the DHCP server.
Depending on the type of router or DHCP server you are using, you may also be able to bind certain addresses to the device’s Media Access Control (MAC) identity. This way, you can be sure that no other device can occupy that address because MAC identities are never shared between devices.
As an administrator, you may also need to perform regular network scans on the network just to find out what devices are connected to your system. This practice helps eliminate devices that may have incorrect addresses that can create conflicts and restrict the performance of your network. Incorrect addresses are most often attributed to portable machines connecting to different networks when their owners move from one office to another. Whenever you scan your network and detect incorrectly configured devices, you should take action by correcting them and also advising their owners or users on the importance of ensuring that their devices are configured correctly for better connectivity.
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