Effect of DHCP Server switch going down

[xzevallos]

Let's say I have a Cisco switch acting as a DHCP server.  It's configured to save its DCHP binding database to flash.  But the switch goes down and needs to be replaced.  The switch is replaced soon, but the new switch has no knowledge of the DHCP bindings of the previous switch.  What happens in this case?  Will the new switch start handing out duplicate addresses?

[Martin L · Accepted solution]

No, DHCP server should send ping probe to see if IP is taken before handing out new one.

Regards, ML
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[marce1000]

   >...Let's say I have a Cisco switch acting as a DHCP server.  It's configured to save its DCHP binding database to flash.  But the switch goes down and needs to be replaced
   - Here you are pointing to the disadvantages of using switches for DHCP services , it's better to separate this from the layer2 services and use appliances for DHCP : multiple vendors will offer active standby pairs ('dhcp clusters') where database  synchronization is done automatically and dhcp servicing failover to the standby node becomes instant when needed (e.g.)

 M.