DHCP - was Re: debian first in slashdot poll
> Actually, DHCP is extremely useful in a corporate environment, especially when
> there is a shortage of IP addresses to go around. It is also useful to help
> keep employees from running ftp servers from their workstations. If their IP
> address keeps changing, it makes it more difficult.
>
> Dave Bristel
Agreed - we dont care if people run ftp servers on their systems (if you issue
3 day leases and people reboot on average every day they will always usually
have the same IP address if they are on the same network (for the people who
have not had much to do with MS operating systems rebooting is the thing we
do when just after we have installed a new kernel ;-)))
I can plug my laptop (which gets its IP configuration from DHCP into any
network point on any site at work, or into my home network) and it will get
not just an IP address, but be told about default routers and all the
information it needs.
Our work network has over 50 new systems being added every working day with
almost zero network administration required - only server systems need a
meaningful DNS entry.
The reference implementation of the DHCP protocol, distributed by the Internet
Software Consortium - the same people who distribute the reference DNS
implementation - is developed on Unix systems.
DHCP is becoming very important for reducing the cost of running large
corporate networks. It is also becoming important for mobile workers.
I think it would be great if Debian had a 'Configure network via DHCP' option
in its initial setup, as an alternative to setting it up with a static IP
address.
John Lines
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