ZyXEL Communications 4728F User Manual

XGS-4526/4528F/4728F User’s Guide

This chapter shows you how to configure the DHCP feature. 

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol RFC 2131 and RFC 2132) allows 
individual computers to obtain TCP/IP configuration at start-up from a server. You 
can configure the Switch as a DHCP server or a DHCP relay agent. When 
configured as a server, the Switch provides the TCP/IP configuration for the 
clients. If you configure the Switch as a relay agent, then the Switch forwards 
DHCP requests to DHCP server on your network. If you don’t configure the Switch 
as a DHCP server or relay agent then you must have a DHCP server in the 
broadcast domain of the client computers or else the client computers must be 
configured manually.

The Switch can be configured as a DHCP server or DHCP relay agent. 

• If you configure the Switch as a DHCP server, it will maintain the pool of IP 

addresses along with subnet masks, DNS server and default gateway 

information and distribute them to your LAN computers. 

• If there is already a DHCP server on your network, then you can configure the 

Switch as a DHCP relay agent. When the Switch receives a request from a 

computer on your network, it contacts the DHCP server for the necessary IP 

information, and then relays the assigned information back to the computer. 

The DHCP configuration on the Switch is divided into Global and VLAN screens. 
The screen you should use for configuration depends on the DHCP services you 
want to offer the DHCP clients on your network. Choose the configuration screen 
based on the following criteria:

• Global - The Switch forwards all DHCP requests to the same DHCP server.