Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

Most IPv4 network devices, excluding some servers and network infrastructure equipment, receive IP address configuration from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. Hosts that are automatically configured with DHCP are much easier to manage than hosts with manually configured IP addresses—especially if you ever need to move hosts to a different subnet, change Domain Name System (DNS) or Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) servers, or update the default gateway.

Some IPv6 network devices can also use DHCP for auto-configuration, although many IPv6 networks rely entirely on routers to provide hosts with the information they need to connect to the network. Whether you are using IPv4, IPv6, or both, using the DHCP server component of Windows Server 2008 gives you straightforward, enterprise-wide control over the configuration of the majority of your network hosts.