HP BL10e Setting up a Linux PXE server and integrating clients - Page 13

Appendix a: glossary In this glossary, terms are listed alphabetically with detailed descriptions for each entry. Table 3. Glossary terms1 Term Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Dynamic IP Address Fixed IP Address IP Address Conflict Media Access Control (MAC) Address Static IP Address Definition DHCP is a protocol used for assigning dynamic IP addresses to a device on a network. DHCP simplifies network administration because the software keeps a log of IP addresses it hands out dynamically. By this action, it allows an administrator to add computers to a network without the hassle of manually assigning a unique IP address each time. A dynamic IP address is an address dynamically assigned by the DHCP server. As the name implies, dynamic addressing most often uses a different IP address each time the computer or network device requests an IP address from the DHCP server. The computer or network device will use this assigned IP address until it is turned off. A fixed IP address takes the best attributes of both the dynamic and static IP address schemes. In this case, the DHCP service supplies the server with an address that never changes. This assignment eliminates the need to manually configure a static IP address on the server and allows that same network device to be moved easily into an environment that participates in DHCP addresses. This flexibility allows a network device with a fixed IP address to participate on a network using a dynamic IP address without additional configuration on the client side. It is important for each computer or network device participating on a single network to have distinct IP addresses. When two computers or network devices have the same IP address then a conflict is created and one or both systems will have network problems. Automatically configuring IP addresses through a single DHCP server aids in preventing IP address conflicts. The MAC address is your network card's unique hardware number. This MAC address usually is not used directly. It is often paired with an IP address which is then used to communicate with that computer or network device. A static IP address is a permanent IP address (an address that does not change). This address is manually configured, for example, it is not distributed by a DHCP server. The network administrator usually controls which static IP addresses are in use and who is able to use them. 1 Networking Glossary of Terms. U.S. Robotics. 25 July 2003. 13