The first step in
configuring a DHCP server is to create the configuration file that stores the
network information for the clients. Use this file to declare options and
global options for client systems.
The configuration file can
contain extra tabs or blank lines for easier formatting. Keywords are
case-insensitive and lines beginning with a hash sign (#) are considered
comments.
There are two types of
statements in the configuration file:
- Parameters
— State how to perform a task, whether to perform a task, or what network
configuration options to
send to the client.
- Declarations
— Describe the topology of the network, describe the clients, provide
addresses for the clients, or apply a group of parameters to a group of
declarations.
The parameters that start with the keyword option
are reffered to as options. These options
control DHCP options; whereas, parameters configure values that are not
optional or control how the DHCP server behaves.
Parameters
(including options) declared before a section enclosed in curly brackets ({ })
are considered global parameters. Global parameters apply to all the sections
below it.
"If the configuration file is changed, the changes do not take effect until the DHCP daemon is restarted with the command
"If the configuration file is changed, the changes do not take effect until the DHCP daemon is restarted with the command
service dhcpd restart."