Can DHCP server in different network for Cisco IOS-XE ZTP?

[yoongseong]

In Cisco document Programmability Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.6.x, it stated the following:

Spoiler

In Zero-Touch Provisioning, a DHCP server must be running on the same network as the new device that is being provisioned. Zero-Touch Provisioning is supported on both management ports and in-band ports.

Any reason why DHCP server must be in the same network? Can't we use DHCP relay or IP helper if we only maintain a centralised DHCP server, instead of having additional DHCP server in each and every network segment that we need to run ZTP?

[Sergey Lisitsin]

yoongseong,

According to this document https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/asr920/configuration/guide/chassis/b_Chassis_Guide_xe-16-5-asr920/using-ztp.pdf

there is no requirement to have a local DHCP server in every network for which ZTP is required.

[yoongseong]

Hi Sergey, in Cisco IOS-XE Programmability Guide, it did state that "a DHCP server must be running on the same network as the new device that is being provisioned."

[NtwkEngineer · Accepted solution]

Either you'll need to have the DHCP server on the network where the devices will be ZTP, or use an appropriate DHCP forwarding service (e.g. ip helper-address on an SVI) in order to forward the BOOTP traffic to a DHCP server on a different network.  Basically, it's the same requirement as for any other host receiving DHCP on a network.