Scenario
Ted is building the IT infrastructure for a small business. He already has two domain controllers and DNS running on Windows Server Core, along with a Windows 10 workstation joined to the domain for remote management.
The business is rolling out several new Windows 10 PCs, and Ted wants them to receive IP addresses automatically instead of configuring each one manually. To achieve this, he needs to deploy a DHCP server, define an IP addressing plan, and configure scopes and reservations so the network remains organised and easy to manage.
Lab Objectives
By the end of this lab, you will be able to:
- Install and configure the DHCP Server role on Windows Server Core.
- Create and activate a DHCP scope for dynamic IP allocation.
- Configure DHCP options such as default gateway and DNS servers.
- Test DHCP address assignment from a Windows 10 workstation.
- Create DHCP reservations for devices requiring static IP addresses.
Prerequisites
- Windows Server 2019 (Server Core) installed and joined to the domain
- Two existing domain controllers with DNS configured
- A Windows 10 workstation joined to the domain
- Static IP addressing configured on the new DHCP server
- Administrative privileges on all systems
Prepare the Windows Server Core DHCP Server
Set up the base configuration before installing the DHCP role.
- Install Windows Server Core 2019 on a new server.
- Set the hostname to DHCP01 using
sconfig. - Join the server to the domain.
- Configure a static IP address and set DNS to point to the two domain controllers.
Verification
Run ipconfig /all and confirm the hostname, IP address, and DNS settings match your network plan.
Add the Server to Server Manager
Manage the Server Core machine remotely from Windows 10.
- On the Windows 10 workstation, open Server Manager.
- Select Add Servers.
- Search for DHCP01 and add it to the console.
Verification
DHCP01 should appear in Server Manager with its roles and features visible.
Install the DHCP Server Role
Enable DHCP services on the Server Core machine.
- In Server Manager, select DHCP01.
- Choose Add Roles and Features.
- Select DHCP Server and complete the installation.
- After installation, authorize the DHCP server in Active Directory.
Verification
Server Manager should show the DHCP role installed and authorised.
Create a DHCP Scope
Define the IP address range that DHCP will allocate to devices.
- Open DHCP Manager from the Windows 10 workstation.
- Expand DHCP01 → IPv4.
- Create a new scope with:
- Start IP: 10.0.10.51
- End IP: 10.0.10.250
- Subnet Mask: (based on your network)
- Configure DHCP options:
- Default Gateway
- DNS Servers (pointing to the two domain controllers)
Verification
The scope should show as Active under IPv4.
Test DHCP Address Assignment
Confirm that devices receive IP addresses from the new DHCP server.
- On a Windows 10 PC, set the network adapter to obtain an IP address automatically.
- Run
ipconfig /renewor reboot the PC. - Check the assigned IP address.
Verification
The workstation should receive 10.0.10.51, the first available address in the scope, along with the correct gateway and DNS settings.
Create a DHCP Reservation
Assign a static IP address to a device based on its MAC address.
- Add an existing server (Server11) to Server Manager and confirm it receives a dynamic IP (10.0.10.52).
- Copy the MAC address from Server11’s network adapter.
- In DHCP Manager, create a reservation:
- Reserved IP: 10.0.10.11
- MAC Address: (from Server11)
- Ensure DNS is updated to reflect the new static IP.
Verification
After rebooting Server11, it should receive the reserved IP 10.0.10.11 and appear correctly in Server Manager.
Conclusion
In this lab, you deployed a DHCP server on Windows Server Core, created a structured IP addressing plan, configured a DHCP scope, and tested automatic IP assignment. You also created a DHCP reservation to ensure specific devices always receive the same IP address.
This setup centralises IP management, reduces manual configuration, and keeps your network organised and scalable.
