12-01-2003 10:39 PM - edited 03-02-2019 12:04 PM
if we have 2 ip helper address line..
eg.
ip helper-address x.x.x.x-----first line
ip helper-address x.x.x.y-----second line
and both of this are DHCP servers, what will be the behavior of communications.
q1. Will the first DHCP on the first line always the active dhcp?
q2. Will the second DHCP on the second line always in standby unless the first DHCP goes down?
q3. If a client requested for a dhcp service, and since i have 2 dchp servers, is it possible that either of the dchp server will respond? Or is the helper comand executed sequencially?
12-01-2003 10:45 PM
These ip helpers are just plain broadcasts, so both DHCP servers will be recieving the message.. Generally, DHCP servers are set up primary/secondary, so they will be making the decision on that side.
HTH
12-02-2003 03:23 PM
Answer to q1, q2, and q3:
A DHCP address request broadcast heard on that interface will be forwarded to each of the servers, x.x.x.x and x.x.x.y. The requests will be sent sequentially, but it will be sent to both DHCP servers.
Each DHCP server that receives the forwarded request, will look for a scope that matches the IP subnet that the original broadcast was heard on. (The router or multilayer switch puts information in the request that it forwards, which allows the DHCP server to identify the correct scope.)
If the DHCP server has a scope for that subnet and some available addresses in that range, it will offer one and reply back to the router/switch that forwarded the original request.
The router/switch will then send the reply back out on the interface where the request originated.
The DHCP client will receive one or more offers. Generally, the client completes the address lease/negotiations with the first server that it receives an offer from. ***Note: This isn't always the first server listed in the configuration.***
Even though the helper-addresses are listed sequentially in the configuration, that does not mean that the first one listed always responds to the client first. If that server is busy and the second one is not, then the second server's reply will probably get there first. Or, if the second one's CPU is faster, it may process the request sooner.
In practice, it's a good idea to divide the address pool in half, and assign one half to one DHCP server, and the other half to the other DHCP server. Because you can't predict with 100%certainty how the addresses will be handed out. If the two servers are comparable in speed and utilization, though, it should work out pretty close to a 50%/50% distribution.
Hope this helps.
12-02-2003 09:09 PM
Thats a very clear explanation..thanks a lot..
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