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Configuring the Switch
IP Configuration
Configuring the Switch
DHCP/Bootp Operation
Overview
DHCP/Bootp is used to download configuration data from a DHCP or Bootp
server respectively to the switch or to a VLAN configured on the switch. With
DHCP you can have the switch automatically retrieve the IP address with no
configuration required on either the switch or the DHCP server. A Bootp server
requires some configuration, but you can additionally identify a file to be
downloaded to the switch containing a full switch configuration.
Note The Switches 1600M/2424M/4000M/8000M are compatible with both DHCP
and Bootp servers.
To use DHCP/Bootp for IP configuration of a VLAN, the DHCP/Bootp server
must be in that VLAN in order for the switch to access it.
The DHCP/Bootp Process
Whenever the IP Config parameter in the switch or in an individual VLAN in
the switch is configured to DHCP/Bootp (the default), or when the switch is
rebooted with this configuration:
1. DHCP/Bootp requests are automatically broadcast on the local network.
(The switch sends one type of request which either a DHCP or Bootp
server can process.)
2. When a DHCP or Bootp server receives the request, it replies with an
automatically generated IP address and subnet mask for the switch. The
switch also receives an IP Gateway address if the server has been config-
ured to provide one. In the case of Bootp, the server must first be
configured with an entry that has the MAC address of the switch. (The
switch properly handles replies from either type of server. If multiple
replies are returned, the switch tries to use the first DHCP reply.)
If the switch is initially configured for DHCP/Bootp operation (the default),
or if it is rebooted with this configuration, it immediately begins sending
request packets on the network. If the switch does not receive a reply to its
DHCP/Bootp requests, it continues to periodically send request packets, but
with decreasing frequency. Thus, if a DHCP or Bootp server is not available
or accessible to the switch when DHCP/Bootp is first configured, the switch
may not immediately receive the desired configuration. After verifying that
the server has become accessible to the switch, reboot the switch to re-start
the process.