A protocol typically employed in the provision and assignment of IP addresses. It allows a host to obtain an IP address dynamically without the network administrator having to set up an individual profile for the host.
Process
The entire process for address assignment can be abbreviated to DORA, which stands for:
- discovery, where as hosts come online, they contact the DHCP server and make themselves known;
- offer, where the DHCP selects an available address and offers the address to the host;
- request, where the host confirms and requests the lease of the address; and
- acknowledgement, where the DHCP confirms the lease for a certain time duration and acknowledges the request.