SMC Networks ADSL Barricade SMC7204BRA - Manual (Page 46)

43
C
ONFIGURING
D
YNAMIC
H
OST
C
ONFIGURATION
P
ROTOCOL
You can configure your network and ADSL Barricade to use
the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). This section
provides an overview of DHCP and instructions for implementing
it on your network.
Overview of DHCP
What is DHCP?
DHCP is a protocol that enables network administrators to centrally
manage the assignment and distribution of IP information
to computers on a network.
When you enable DHCP on a network, you allow a device – such
as the ADSL Barricade or a router located with your ISP – to assign
temporary IP addresses to your computers whenever they connect
to your network. The assigning device is called a DHCP server,
and the receiving device is a DHCP client.
Note: If you used the Quick Start instructions, you
configured each LAN PC with an IP address,
or you specified that it will receive IP information
dynamically (automatically). If you chose to have
the information assigned dynamically, then you
configured your PCs as DHCP clients that will
accept IP addresses assigned from a DCHP
server such as the ADSL Barricade.