Admin Tips
- Windows Server 2008/2003/2000/XP/NT Administrator Knowledge Base
  - Windows 2003
    - Admin Tips
      - Network
        Authorized DHCP

Section(s): Security , Network
Published on Dec 04, 2007.
Last Modified on Dec 04, 2007.
Last Modified by Mitch Tulloch.
Rated 2 out of 5 based on 1 votes.

How to authorize DHCP for clients

A common question is whether there is a way to configure a DHCP Server so that it only assigns IP addresses to machines that you authorize it to do so. For example, can you assign an IP address based on a MAC address. Of course you can—you create a DHCP reservation. But this really doesn't answer the question because DHCP reservations don't "authorize" DHCP clients before leasing them an address.

The real solution to this issue will come when Windows Server 2008 is released and it's called Network Access Protection (NAP) as you can use the DHCP Enforcement method of NAP to allow only authorized clients to lease addresses from your DHCP server. For more information about NAP and its DHCP Enforcement method (and other enforcement methods) see my book Introducing Windows Server 2008.

***

Mitch Tulloch is lead author for the Windows Vista Resource Kit from Microsoft Press, which is THE book for IT pros who want to deploy, maintain and support Windows Vista in mid- and large-sized network environments. Mitch is also the author of Introducing Windows Server 2008, the first book from Microsoft Press about the exciting new server platform. For more information on these and other books written by Mitch, see www.mtit.com.

About Mitch Tulloch

Mitch Tulloch is a widely recognized expert on Windows administration, networking, and security. He has been repeatedly awarded Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status by Microsoft for his outstanding contributions in supporting users who deploy and use Microsoft platforms, products and solutions. Mitch has published over two hundred articles on different IT websites and magazines, and he has written or contributed to almost two dozen books and is lead author for the Windows 7 Resource Kit from Microsoft Press. For more information, see www.mtit.com .