This simple conguration le should be sufcient to get the DHCP server to assign IP
addresses in the network. Make sure that a semicolon is inserted at the end of each line,
because otherwise dhcpd is not started.
The sample le can be divided into three sections. The rst one denes how many
seconds an IP address is leased to a requesting client by default
(default-lease-time) before it should apply for renewal. This section also in-
cludes a statement of the maximum period for which a machine may keep an IP address
assigned by the DHCP server without applying for renewal (max-lease-time).
In the second part, some basic network parameters are dened on a global level:
•
The line option domain-name denes the default domain of your network.
•
With the entry option domain-name-servers, specify up to three values for
the DNS servers used to resolve IP addresses into hostnames and vice versa. Ideally,
congure a name server on your machine or somewhere else in your network before
setting up DHCP. That name server should also dene a hostname for each dynamic
address and vice versa. To learn how to congure your own name server, read
Chapter 25, The Domain Name System (page 421).
•
The line option broadcast-address denes the broadcast address the re-
questing client should use.
•
With option routers, set where the server should send data packets that cannot
be delivered to a host on the local network (according to the source and target host
address and the subnet mask provided). In most cases, especially in smaller networks,
this router is identical to the Internet gateway.
•
With option subnet-mask, specify the netmask assigned to clients.
The last section of the le denes a network, including a subnet mask. To nish,
specify the address range that the DHCP daemon should use to assign IP addresses to
interested clients. In Example 26.1, “The Conguration File /etc/dhcpd.conf” (page 452),
clients may be given any address between 192.168.2.10 and 192.168.2.20 as
well as 192.168.2.100 and 192.168.2.200.
After editing these few lines, you should be able to activate the DHCP daemon with
the command rcdhcpd start. It will be ready for use immediately. Use the command
rcdhcpd check-syntax to perform a brief syntax check. If you encounter any
DHCP 453
