How to Install and Configure DHCP in Windows Server 2016

Photo of author

By Victor Ashiedu

Published

This Itechguide teaches you how to install and setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016.

The guide covers the following step to install and setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016:

  1. Install DHCP role in Windows Server 2016
  2. Perform Post-Installation Configuration
  3. Configure DHCP Windows Server 2016 Scope
  4. Configure Scope Options
  5. Reserve DHCP Address

Install DHCP Server Role in Windows Server 2016

Install DHCP role in Windows Server 2016

The first step to setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016 is to install the role

Here are the steps:

  • Login to the server you plan to install DHCP in Windows Server 2016 and open Server Manager.
  • From Server Manager, click Manage. Then select Add Roles and Features.
Step to Install and setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016
  • At the Before you begin screen, click Next.
  • Then on the Select installation type, select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next.
  • Select the server you are installing DHCP role. Then click Next.
  • Check the box beside DHCP Server.
  • When you check the box, you are prompted to Add features that required for DHCP Server. Click Add features.
how to setup dhcp server 2016 - Add features that required for DHCP Server
  • When you return to Select server roles, click Next.
  • Then at the Select features screen, click Next.
how to setup dhcp server 2016
  • On this screen, the wizard offers a quick overview of DHCP Server role.
  • On the Confirmation screen, check the box beside Restart the destination server automatically if required. You will be prompted to confirm automatic restart. Click Yes.
Warning!
If this is a production server, it may restart automatically without further notification. To restart the server manually, DO NOT check Restart the destination server automatically if required box!
how to setup dhcp server 2016
  • Finally, to install DHCP in Windows Server 2016, click Install.
  • When the installation is completed, click Close. Then proceed to step 2 –

Authorize the DHCP Server in Active Directory (Post-Installation Configuration)

The next step in to setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016 is to Authorize the DHCP Server in Active Directory.

Here are the steps:

  • When you finish installing DHCP Server role, Server Manager notification will display an amber triangle. Click on the amber triangle. Then select Complete DHCP configuration.
how to setup dhcp server 2016
  • When the Post-configuration wizard loads, click Next.

The next step is to authorize the DHCP Server in Active Directory. To do this you need to specify an AD account with administrator privilege.

  • On the Authorization screen, at the Use alternate credentials, UserName field, click Specify.
how to setup dhcp server 2016
  • Then type your AD admin user name and password and click OK.
  • The user details will be populated in the UserName field, click Commit.
  • If you receive some warnings about authentication, click OK. Then at the Summary screen, click Close.

Setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016: Configure Scope

After authorizing DHCP Server in AD, the next step to setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016 is to configure a DHCP scope.

A scope is where you:

  • Setup a pool of IP addresses that the server can issue to clients.
  • Configure exclusions: exclude a range of IPs that you do not want to be issued
  • Reserve specific IP addresses for DHCP clients.

Before you setup a scope:

  • Determine the IP range of the scope
  • Subnet of the range

Here are the steps to setup a DHCP scope:

  • Open Server Manager. Then click Tools and select DHCP.
Setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016: Configure Scope
  • When DHCP tool opens, expand your server name. Then expand IPv4.
Setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016: Configure Scope
  • To create a scope, right-click IPv4. Then select New Scope.
  • When the New Scope Wizard opens, click Next.
how to setup dhcp server 2016
  • Then, on the Scope Name screen, type a name for the scope (required). You may also type a description (optional). When you finish, click Next.
how to setup dhcp server 2016
  • At the IP Address Range screen, enter the Start IP address and End IP address. The wizard will auto-populate the Length and Subnet mask. Confirm that they are correct. Then click Next.
  • Then in the Add Exclusions and Delay screen, you can add exclusions. You could also add a Subnet delay in milliseconds. When you finish, click Next.
  • Then configure your Lease Duration. In most circumstances, the default (8 days) is okay. When you finish, click Next.
  • On this screen, you can configure the scope options. To configure the scope options, click Yes. I have a section dedicated to scope configurations. So, I am selecting No. Click Next.
  • On the final screen, click Finish. Your scope is configured but it is NOT activated (It has a red arrow pointing downwards).

Activate the DHCP Scope

Activate the DHCP Scope
  • To activate the scope, right-click it then select Activate.
  • The scope is now activated!

Setup DHCP Server 2016 Scope Options

Setup DHCP Server 2016 Scope Options

Scope options allows you to set Default Gateway, DNS Server and other options that the DHCP Server will lease to the clients with the IP addresses.

In this guide I will configure two scope options:

  1. 003 Router
  2. 006 DNS Server

To configure DHCP Scope Options:

  • Open DHCP Configuration tool. Expand the server, then expand IPv4.
  • Right-click Scope Options and select Configure Options.
  • To add a Default Gateway, locate and check the box beside 003 Router.
  • Beneath Data entry, enter the IP address of the router or server IP of your default gateway. Then click Add.
  • To add the DNS server for your clients, locate and check the box beside 006 DNS Servers. Then enter the IP address of the DNS Server and click Add (See the second image below).
how to setup dhcp server 2016
  • When you finish, click Apply. Then click OK.
how to setup dhcp server 2016
  • To see the configured options, right-click Scope Options and click Refresh.
how to setup dhcp server 2016
how to setup dhcp server 2016

Reserve DHCP Address

Reserve DHCP Address

As a Windows admin, you will receive requests to reserve IP addresses for specific DHCP clients.

This is necesary if you want the client to use a specific IP address but you do not want to assign a manual IP address to the client.

Here are the steps to reserve a DHCP IP address:

  • If you have access to the client, open command prompt, type this command and press enter.
ipconfig /all

But if you do not have access to the client, ask the user to run the command and send you the Physical Address (MAC address). If you want the client to retain the existing assigned IP address, request for the IPv4 Address as well.

To reserve the IP address:

  • Open DHCP Configuration tool. Expand the server, then expand IPv4.
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-41.png
  • Right-click Reservations. Then select New Reservation
  • On the New Reservation window, enter the IP address you wish to reserve for the client. Then type the MAC address (better to copy and paste to avoid mistake). Finally, select a Supported type (DHCP or BOOTP or both) [If not sure, accept the default (Both)]. When you finish, click Add.
  • The Reserved IP will now appear in the Reservations list

That is most of the things you require to fully setup DHCP in Windows Server 2016.

I hope you found this Itechguide helpful. If you were able to setup DHCP server 2016 with the steps in this guide would you spare 2 minutes to share with our community members at [discourse_topic_url]?

More Windows Server guides? Visit our Windows Server How-To page.

We go the extra mile to deliver the highest quality content for our readers. Read our Content Writing, Content Review, and Anti-Plagiarism policies to learn more.

About the Author

Photo of author

Victor Ashiedu

Victor is the founder of InfoPress Media, publishers of Ilifeguides and Itechguides. With 20+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, his expertise spans Windows, Linux, and DevOps. Explore his contributions on Itechguides.com for insightful how-to guides and product reviews.

Related Articles

Get in Touch

If this article does not meet your expectations, kindly let us know. We have various ways you can get in touch with us:

  1. Respond to "Was this page helpful?" above
  2. Leave a comment with the "Leave a Comment" form below
  3. Email us at [email protected] or via the Contact Us page.

Leave a comment

Send this to a friend