How to authorize DHCP in Active Directory
Active Directory (AD) is a crucial component of Windows Server environments, providing centralized management for network resources. One of the key services managed by Active Directory is Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration settings to clients on a network. Authorizing DHCP in Active Directory ensures that only trusted DHCP servers can manage and assign IP addresses to clients. In this article, we will discuss the steps to authorize DHCP in Active Directory.
Step 1: Install DHCP Server Role
Before authorizing DHCP in Active Directory, you need to install the DHCP Server role on the Windows Server. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open Server Manager on the Windows Server.
2. Click on “Add roles and features” in the Actions pane.
3. In the Add Roles and Features Wizard, select “Role-based or feature-based installation.”
4. Click “Next.”
5. Select the server from the server pool list and click “Next.”
6. In the Role Summary page, click “Next.”
7. In the Select Server Roles page, scroll down and select “DHCP.”
8. Click “Next.”
9. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the DHCP Server role installation.
Step 2: Authorize DHCP Server in Active Directory
Once the DHCP Server role is installed, you need to authorize the DHCP server in Active Directory. This ensures that the DHCP server is recognized as a valid DHCP server by the domain. To authorize the DHCP server, follow these steps:
1. Open the DHCP Management console on the DHCP server.
2. In the console tree, expand the server name.
3. Right-click on “IPv4” and select “Authorize DHCP Server.”
4. In the Authorize DHCP Server dialog box, select the domain from the list of available domains.
5. Click “OK.”
Step 3: Verify DHCP Server Authorization
After authorizing the DHCP server, it is essential to verify that the authorization was successful. To do this, follow these steps:
1. In the DHCP Management console, right-click on the DHCP server and select “Properties.”
2. In the Properties dialog box, go to the “Authorizations” tab.
3. You should see the domain you authorized the DHCP server for listed under “Authorized DHCP servers.”
4. Click “OK” to close the Properties dialog box.
Step 4: Configure DHCP Scopes
Now that the DHCP server is authorized in Active Directory, you can proceed to configure DHCP scopes. A DHCP scope defines the range of IP addresses that the DHCP server can assign to clients. To configure a DHCP scope, follow these steps:
1. In the DHCP Management console, right-click on the DHCP server and select “New Scope.”
2. In the New Scope Wizard, follow the on-screen instructions to create a new DHCP scope, including specifying the IP address range, subnet mask, and DNS server settings.
3. Complete the wizard to create the DHCP scope.
Conclusion
Authorizing DHCP in Active Directory is a critical step in ensuring that your network’s IP address management is secure and efficient. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully authorize DHCP in Active Directory and configure DHCP scopes to manage IP addresses for your network clients.
