DHCP Information

Configuring DHCP is easy. WinGate automatically installs a DHCP service. The default is fully automatic DHCP mode, where IP ranges, DNS and all settings are provided. If you prefer to have more control over the settings, Manual mode allows total control.

These are some terms relating to DHCP:

Subnet A subnet is a group of computers that are directly connected via coax or a hub. A computer with two network adapters will be on 2 subnets.

Interface An interface is any connection to a network. This may be a Network card, modem, ISDN card or other TCP/IP capable device that is installed in a machine.

Lease The length of time for which a dynamically assigned IP can be used. Before the lease expires, the client must renew the lease with the DHCP server.

Reservation A Reservation is used to specify that a specific machine will always be allocated a specific IP address.

Scope A Scope is a range of IP addresses, and associated TCP/IP configuration options. A DHCP scope comprises a pool of available IP addresses in a contiguous subnet. Each scope is used to define parameters for each subnet or interface. Each scope has the following properties:

Each scope is associated with an interface. This interface is the interface in WinGate that the DHCP client requests will come in on.

A scope name / description.

A subnet mask used to determine the subnet related to a given IP address.

Lease time to be assigned to DHCP clients with dynamic addresses.

Exclusions Excluded IP ranges allow the administrator to say “Don’t allocate these IP addresses to any computer. An exclusion range must lie within the scope. In Auto mode, the IP of the WinGate machine is automatically added as an exclusion.

Option A DHCP option specifies a parameter that will be configured in a DHCP client, for example the DNS server, or the default gateway. There are options in DHCP on three levels. There are Global options, Scope options, and Reservation options. Reservation options override Scope options which override global options.

Even in Full auto mode, you can manually configure all scopes and options. Full auto mode simply refers to what WinGate will do automatically to help you, so it can often be useful if you have specific requirements, to start out using full auto, and then do your own modifications afterwards.