Windows Server 2008: The Definitive Guide

Chapter 11. DHCP and Network Access Protection

In this chapter, I'll take a look at two major communications and networking services that are commonly used in Windows Server 2008 installations: the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, which helps administrators with IP address management, and the Network Access Protection feature to protect your network from untrusted clients.

This chapter has a practical focus. Entire books can (and have) been written on each of these topics, so I cannot possibly cover all of them in depth. Because of the vast amount of resources already available, I've chosen to focus on providing instructions for configuring these protocols and services to work under Windows Server 2008 rather than overwhelm you with page after page of theory. I discuss the mechanics a bit, but I place more emphasis on hands-on activities.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assists administrators by automatically configuring computers with IP addresses, saving the hassle of assigning and tracking static IP addresses among multiple machines. When DHCP is coupled with dynamic DNS, a technique you learned about in Chapter 4, a lot of administrative headaches formerly encountered by network administrators are reduced and, in some cases, even eliminated.

How It Works

The process is started by the client, which makes a request for an IP address to a DHCP server. If a client is new to the network, or currently has an invalid IP address, the ...