dynamic host configuration protocol

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
DHCP

   <protocol> (DHCP) A {protocol} that provides a means to
   dynamically allocate {IP address}es to computers on a {local
   area network}.  The {system administrator} assigns a range of
   IP addresses to DHCP and each client computer on the LAN has
   its {TCP/IP} software configured to request an IP address from
   the DHCP server.  The request and grant process uses a lease
   concept with a controllable time period.

   DHCP is defined in {RFC 2131}.

   {Microsoft} introduced DHCP on their {NT server} with version
   3.5 in late 1994.

   (http://dhcp.org/).

   (1998-11-22)