DHCP: How Your PC Gets Its IP Address

Explains the concept of DHCP, an application-layer protocol that your own computer probably uses to get an IP address from your network.

00:00 Intro
00:14 A world without DHCP
01:26 DHCP to the rescue
02:15 The four-step process

My DHCP video was originally uploaded on September 7th 2013, but I made a new version after an attentive viewer pointed out some inaccuracies.

== Further reading ==
Can I have multiple DHCP servers on one network?

How can IP conflicts be resolved?

The fine print: in some cases DHCP offer and ACK messages are unicast

[slidenerd]

dude, bloody awesome! as Einstein says, you can simplify it if you understand it, that was totally badass

[jibin]

Better than reading 1 whole text book !!!

[BLBytes]

My Cisco course taught that the messages were:
DHCP Discover - Broadcast
DHCP Offer - Unicast
DCHP Request - Broadcast
DHCP ACK - Unicast

The server can send unicast messages because it knows the MAC address of the client from the original discover frame sent out. Since DHCP will only really happen on a local network (with exceptions) it doesn't need to know the IP address of the client, only the MAC. 

The client broadcasts the request so that if there are other DHCP servers on the network, they can see the request too. Only the server that made the offer will ACK the request.

[h-batchmailadmin]

Its the best video with excellent explanation i've known so far ! Thankyou sir !

[ajaytamang]

Pieter you the best man when it comes to explaining the technical stuffs in simple language.

[tonywang]

Thank you so much, to make it so simple and clean. Hard to find anything with this good quality. Don't know why there are down votes

[Drew.DrivesYT]

Just remember DORA and you'll never get confused.

[paleshyrain]

more videos please. youre doing a great job! better and simpler explanation than the ones given by my professors in college.

[MrSaemichlaus]

These videos are a pleasure to watch! Superior design and clear words, very well done.

[oranjizer]

One of the best, very well explained videos on the concept.

[konradlubaszka]

Another great entry describing the principle of operation of these complicated things. I really like your simple explanation that can be easily understood by people who are taking the first steps in networks. Did you could make a video in which you could explain the principle of DAS, NAS and SAN on some examples? This would help me a lot

[DaBBoSaH]

your style is really nice, please don't stop, keep it up

[nishadkumar]

And the emmy award for making things simple to understand goes to YOU!! Great video!!!

[GgYRwnce]

Professionally & beautifully done and explained. Thank you. 10/10 :)

[freezeable]

ur better than any of my teacher. u explanation is  so so good.

[junaidtanoli]

Pieter your videos are <3 please make more videos like this, maybe a crash course on CCNA .Thanks love your voice too.

[wangyuntong]

So clean and simple!!!! I love your illustration ~ Helped me before exam

[UpusCumupus]

hi pieter ..just like to tell you that i really enjoy your videos. They're very informative and easy to understand! Keep up the good work.

[geod]

Great job!! Gongrats! You are really good at explaining difficult terms in a very simple way!
One Question! Do you have in mind what kind of different offers several servers can offer?

[kirandevkumble]

dude u really make a great videos . Your teaching method is really awesome .
Dude come on, make some more .Where are you?