Overview

Open DHCP Server is a DHCP server which conforms to industry standards.

A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network protocol which ensures that a server will correctly assign a fresh IP address to a network device when it connects based on a specified range of acceptable IP addresses known as a scope.

This software is open-source and offered as freeware. It supports multiple subnets and multiple domains too.

The package actually comes with two instances. This is to protect in case the first DHCP server fails. In this situation the second instance will ensure that the leases will be renewed even if the first server has failed. Both servers remain in sync via a database with each DHCP server. This ensures that duplicate leases are never issued. The second server can still renew leases and both databases will update accordingly.

The software runs without using much memory or CPU in the process despite running two instances and ensuring both databases are mirrored.

Installation

The installation completed without any issues.

There was no adware, toolbars, spyware or malware included with the setup package.

Open DHCP Server requires Windows OS.

Interface

The interface is fairly basic and configurable to make the best of the included features.

DHCP ranges can be setup for the allocation of acceptable IP addresses when new leases are required.

For anyone familiar with using DHCP servers, the interface will not present any surprises.

Pros

• DHCP server with multi-subnet and multiple domain support
• Creates and renews IP address leases
• Duplicate instance to ensure IP addresses continue to be renewed even if the first server instance fails
• Static and dynamic leases supported
• Automated DHCP range selection from preset parameters
• DHCP ranges can be User Class, Vendor or Mac filtered
• See lease status via a refreshable HTML status page
• PXE Boot, BOOTP and Relay Agents

Cons

• Requires a system administrator or someone similarly educated to manage this multi-subnet DHCP server correctly

Alternatives

The Tiny DHCP Server offers a minimal number of features, but still offers the main features that are needed for a functional DHCP server. The software doesn't have the kind of advanced features one would expect to see in an expensive paid DHCP Server application though. Antamedia DHCP Server is another similar software, also free.

Conclusion

Open DHCP Server is a capable DHCP server which is capable of managing many new connections, assigning or renewing IP addresses within a set range, and supports multi-subnets and multiple domains.