dhcp server
 

i got a network with about 12 computers and a few printers. I run it all threw 2 switches. I bought a NAS unit and it said on its setup book to set it up on a dhcp server for a easier install.
Can someoen tell me how to set it up like that?

What OS's are primarily being used.
Is this in a business setting, or home office?

A DHCP server "assigns" IP addresses for the machines on your network. If you have one, all the machines on your network will get their address from the DHCP server. To see if your using it, check the network properties for TCP/IP. If the machines (windows) says something like "Obtain an IP address automatically", and their won't be an address entered in the TCP/IP settings. If you don't have DHCP, the address will be entered manualy.

Now, if you already have DHCP running, your all set. Just plug the NAS in & It'll get the address it needs. If you don't have DHCP, you need to install it. You can install it on a server (Windows NT, 2000), or some network devices will have DHCP running (such as Linksys routers).

What do you have running on your network as far as servers & network devices. Please, be specific wherever possible, thanks.

its a business setting but a small business. i got 2 8 port switches. Thats pretty much it. Just computers hook to the switches. Via Ethernet. I got it working by just pluging it in but it said that dhcp was better so i was just trign to see if i could make it better. Im runing Windows XP pro mostly. some Windows 98Se though.

Don't the windows OS-es automatically assign themselves an IP when none is entered and there is no DHCP? Somehow I remember that being the case, but I don't think that's the situation here.

Smackre: if it just works by plugging it in, don't mess with it, there is no way to make it work 'better' by fiddling with DHCP. (big chance: you already have it set up that way). DHCP can only make things work that didn't before, it can't make things work 'better'.

The only other thing DHCP can do is make a network "maintenance easy" (by administering IP addresses for you) but I don't see how ->
that could be made any easier.....

Just leave it the way it is is my advice!

Windows computer do not assign themselves an IP automatically, that is the job of static IP setting or DHCP. I'm not aware of any other alternatives.

Those Windows XP computers will handle DHCP as a server, but only after adding that admin server from the control panel. Windows 98se will *not* act as a DHCP server. You will only need to setup the DHCP on 1 of your WinXP Pro computers.

In reality, Smackre, setting up a DHCP server will be not useful to your small network of computers. If you were using a leased internet connection line with a limited number of IP addresses and wanted to assign those on a "as needed" basis, then it might be worthwhile. Or, if you had a great need for security on your network and wanted to move computer IPs around to keep hackers on their toes, then sure, DHCP might be for you.

Based on our previous conversations about 802.11b, however, I am going to strongly advise against setting up DHCP on your network unless you achieve your aim via a router with a DHCP server built in. Not only would the setup be challenging for a novice network engineer, but the responsibilities of maintenance and troubleshooting may be more than you want to bite off.

There is nothing wrong with using static IPs and running the network exactly as it is setup now. If it ain't broken...

Edit: One substantial benefit of static IPs is knowing exactly where a problematic PC resides. If you map out your network on paper and write down which IP address cooresponds with which PC, then if your computers are ever hit with a network virus, tracing and locating the PC based on its network traffic will be much easier.

Silvy, they will assign a fake address, but it won't interoperate at all, I know what you're talking about tho...

thanks for the advise guys

169.254.x.x with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 is the local link block, systems configured to use DHCP will pick a random address from this block if there is no DHXP server.

Thanx, I knew there was something like that. But I always use static addresses so I wasn't sure...

ok this is probly a realy stupid question. But we are runing two 8 port switches and we might be adding a cable modem into the pictures soon. Atm my boss is all like anti internet and thinks that if we put net over the network soemoens gonna hack into are system and steal all are ideas. Which i know will highly unlikely happen but. So is it possable to hook the camble modem into a router and then hook the router into the switch. Beacuse i dont wnana half to buy two new 8 port routers. Let me know ur input. I want to share the net over all the computers without hooking it up threw one and using ICS.

another question i forgot was. Onces i get the cable hooked up i have a NAS unit and would like to be accesable from any location. Id like to set that up as a FTP or something like a FTP. Just a few suggestion about going at that if u guys can help me.