Methods of Assigning IP Addresses

Last Updated on Tue, 04 Jul 2023 | Network Design

This section discusses methods of assigning IP addresses to end systems and explains their influence on administrative overhead. Address assignment includes assigning an IP address, a default gateway, one or more domain name servers that resolve names to IP addresses, time servers, and so forth. Before selecting the desired IP address assignment method, the following questions should be answered:

■ How many devices need an IP address?

■ Which devices require static IP address assignment?

■ Is IP address renumbering expected in the future?

■ Is the administrator required to track devices and their IP addresses?

■ Do additional parameters (default gateway, name server, and so forth) have to be configured?

■ Are there any availability issues?

■ Are there any security issues?

Static Versus Dynamic IP Address Assignment Methods

Following are the two basic IP address assignment strategies:

■ Static: An IP address is statically assigned to a system. The network administrator configures the IP address, default gateway, and name servers manually by entering them into a special file or files on the end system with either a graphical or text interface. Static address assignment is an extra burden for the administrator—especially on large-scale networks— who must configure the address on every end system in the network.

■ Dynamic: IP addresses are dynamically assigned to the end systems. Dynamic address assignment relieves the administrator of manually assigning an address to every network device. Instead, the administrator must set up a server to assign the addresses. On that server, the administrator defines the address pools and additional parameters that should be sent to the host (default gateway, name servers, time servers, and so forth). On the host, the administrator enables the host to acquire the address dynamically; this is often the default. When IP address reconfiguration is needed, the administrator reconfigures the server, which then performs the host-renumbering task. Examples of available address assignment protocols include Reverse Address Resolution Protocol, Boot Protocol, and DHCP. DHCP is the newest and provides the most features.

When to Use Static or Dynamic Address Assignment

To select either a static or dynamic end system IP address assignment method or a combination of

the two, consider the following:

■ Node type: Network devices such as routers and switches typically have static addresses. End-user devices such as PCs typically have dynamic addresses.

■ The number of end systems: If there are more than 30 end systems, dynamic address assignment is preferred. Static assignment can be used for smaller networks.

■ Renumbering: If renumbering is likely to happen and there are many end systems, dynamic address assignment is the best choice. With DHCP, only DHCP server reconfiguration is needed; with static assignment, all hosts must be reconfigured.

■ Address tracking: If the network policy requires address tracking, the static address assignment method might be easier to implement than the dynamic address assignment method. However, address tracking is also possible with dynamic address assignment with additional DHCP server configuration.

■ Additional parameters: DHCP is the easiest solution when additional parameters must be configured. The parameters have to be entered only on the DHCP server, which then sends the address and those parameters to the clients.

■ High availability: Statically assigned IP addresses are always available. Dynamically assigned IP addresses must be acquired from the server; if the server fails, the addresses cannot be acquired. To ensure reliability, a redundant DHCP server is required.

■ Security: With dynamic IP address assignment, anyone who connects to the network can acquire a valid IP address, in most cases. This might be a security risk. Static IP address assignment poses only a minor security risk.

The use of one address assignment method does not exclude the use of another in a different part of the network.

Guidelines for Assigning IP Addresses in the Enterprise Network

The typical enterprise network uses both static and dynamic address assignment methods. As shown in Figure 6-14, the static IP address assignment method is typically used for campus network infrastructure devices, in the Server Farm and Enterprise Data Center modules, and in the modules of the Enterprise Edge (the E-Commerce, Internet Connectivity, Remote Access and VPN, and WAN and MAN and Site-to-Site VPN modules). Static addresses are required for systems such as servers or network devices, in which the IP address must be known at all times for connectivity, general access, or management.

Figure 6-14 IP Address Assignment in an Enterprise Network

Enterprise Campus

Server Farm

Enterprise Edge

Enterprise Campus

Building Access

& £

I

Building Distribution

3

Campus Core

X

-Dynamic

■ Static

Server Farm

-Dynamic

■ Static

Enterprise Edge

E-Commerce f* 1

Database,

Application,

Web Servers

Internet Connectivity ' .....* 1

Static Servers

1

Static

J

1

Static

J

Enterprise Branch

S3

Dynamic

Dynamic

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Readers' Questions

  • damiano
    How to assign ip address to a clents?
    30 days ago
    • To assign an IP address to a client, you will need to follow these steps:
    1. Access your router's settings: In order to assign an IP address to a client, you need to be connected to the network router or have administrative access to its settings.
    2. Determine the client's MAC address: The Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface card (NIC) of a client. You can usually find the MAC address on the client's network settings or by using command prompts such as "ipconfig /all" (Windows) or "ifconfig" (Linux/Mac).
    3. Reserve an IP address in the router's settings: Access your router's settings interface (generally through a web browser by entering the router's IP address). Look for a section such as "DHCP Reservation" or "Address Reservation" and select it. Locate the option to add a new reservation and enter the client's MAC address along with the IP address you want to assign to it.
    4. Save and apply the changes: Once you have entered the necessary information, save the changes and apply them. This will ensure that the router reserves the assigned IP address for the client in the future.
    5. Restart the client device: To ensure the client receives the new assigned IP address, it is recommended to restart the client device. This will trigger it to request an IP address from the router, and if the reservation was successful, it will be assigned the specific IP address you specified.Note: The specific process may vary slightly depending on the router model and firmware version. Consult your router's manual or manufacturer's website for detailed instructions if needed.
    • ALYX
      What methods are used to assign tcp/ip parameters to network hosts (select two.)?
      1 month ago
      1. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP): DHCP is a network management protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and other TCP/IP parameters to network hosts. It allows hosts to obtain necessary network configuration settings from a DHCP server dynamically.
      2. Manual Configuration: In this method, the TCP/IP parameters are manually assigned to network hosts by network administrators. This involves manually configuring the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and other parameters in the network host's settings. It requires manual input and configuration on each host individually.
      • Hasan
        Which network address and subnet mask does apipa use (select two.)?
        3 months ago
        • -Network Address: 169.254.0.0 -Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0
        • ami
          Which part of the network assigns an ip address?
          3 months ago
          • The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assigns IP addresses to devices on a network.
          • Aman Filmon
            Which organization is responsible for allocating public ip addresses?
            3 months ago
            • The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is responsible for allocating public IP addresses. It is an organization that works under the supervision of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). IANA administers the global Internet Protocol address space and other Internet Protocol-related symbols and numbers.
            • brodie
              Is responsible for the internet's domain name system and the allocation of ip addresses?
              4 months ago
              • The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for the internet's domain name system and the allocation of IP addresses.
              • cora
                What is the name of the organization responsible for assigning public ip addresses?
                5 months ago
                • The organization responsible for assigning public IP addresses is the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
                • mitchell coffey
                  How to change static ip address?
                  5 months ago
                  • 1. Open the Control Panel. 2. Go to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. 3. Click the Change Adapter Settings link on the left-hand side. 4. Right-click on the active network adapter and select Properties. 5. Select the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option and click the Properties button. 6. Select the Use the following IP address option and enter the static IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. 7. Click Okay to save the settings.
                  • STEPHEN
                    What protocol is responsible for assigning ip addresses to hosts on most networks?
                    6 months ago
                    • The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is responsible for assigning IP addresses to hosts on most networks.
                    • Alan
                      Which protocol assigns ip address to the client connected in the internet?
                      7 months ago
                      • The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is responsible for assigning IP addresses to clients who are connected to the Internet.
                      • Tuomo
                        What are the types of ip address assignment?
                        7 months ago
                        1. Static IP address: This type of IP address assignment is a permanent address assigned to a device by an administrator.
                        2. Dynamic IP address: This type of IP address assignment is a temporary address assigned to a device by a DHCP server.
                        3. Private IP address: This type of IP address is used for internal networks and is typically assigned for the use of devices within a local network.
                        4. Public IP address: This type of IP address is used for public networks and is assigned by an internet service provider (ISP).
                        • cynthia gates
                          Which protocol provides a way to automate the ip configuration?
                          7 months ago
                          • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network protocol that enables a server to automatically assign an IP address to a computer from a defined range of numbers configured for a given network.
                          • Katja
                            Which protocol assigns ip address to the client?
                            7 months ago
                            • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the protocol used to assign IP addresses to client devices.
                            • Degna
                              Which two automatic addressing assignments are supported by dhcpv4 (choose two.)?
                              7 months ago
                              1. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
                              2. Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)
                              • Simon
                                Which protocol should you use if you want to dynamically assign ip addresses to network clients?
                                7 months ago
                                • The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) should be used if you want to dynamically assign IP addresses to network clients.
                                • miikka knihtil
                                  What protocol is used to assign computers on a lan dynamic ip addresses?
                                  8 months ago
                                  • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
                                  • paul
                                    How to manually assign ip address?
                                    8 months ago
                                    1. Open the Control Panel.
                                    2. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
                                    3. Choose Change adapter settings.
                                    4. Right click on the connection whose IP address you want to assign manually and select Properties.
                                    5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
                                    6. Click on the Properties button.
                                    7. Select the option "Use the following IP address".
                                    8. Enter the appropriate IP address and Subnet mask values.
                                    9. Enter the Default Gateway Address.
                                    10. Enter the Preferred and Alternate DNS server addresses.
                                    11. Click OK and then close out of all other open windows.
                                    12. Test your new settings.
                                    • estella
                                      How to assign ip address to devices?
                                      8 months ago
                                      1. Connect the device to the network.
                                      2. Use a DHCP server to assign an IP address to the device.
                                      3. Configure the device with a static IP address.
                                      4. Connect the device to a router and set the router to assign IP addresses to the device.
                                      5. Configure the device manually with a static IP address.
                                      • ulrike
                                        How to assign ip adress?
                                        8 months ago
                                        1. Open the Control Panel.
                                        2. Select "Network and Internet".
                                        3. Select "Network and Sharing Center".
                                        4. Select "Change adapter settings".
                                        5. Right-click on the network connection you want to change the IP address for and select "Properties".
                                        6. Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)".
                                        7. Select "Properties".
                                        8. Select "Use the following IP address".
                                        9. Enter the desired IP address.
                                        10. Enter the subnet mask.
                                        11. Enter the default gateway.
                                        12. Select "OK" to save the settings and close the window.
                                        • John Kemp
                                          Why is dhcp preferred for use on large networks?
                                          8 months ago
                                          • DHCP is preferred for use on large networks because it helps to automate the network configuration process. It eliminates the need for manual configuration of network settings. DHCP also helps reduce the risk of errors, by assigning the same IP address each time a computer connects to the network. It ensures that each client has its own unique IP address, allowing devices to communicate with each other. This increases the performance and reliability of the network.
                                          • rosetta
                                            Which two types of devices are typically assigned static ip addresses (choose two.)?
                                            8 months ago
                                            1. Servers
                                            2. Network Printers
                                            • Ronja
                                              How do you assign a server with an IP address?
                                              1 year ago
                                              • To assign an IP address to a server, you will need to access the server's network settings in its operating system or hardware. From there, you can assign a static IP address or a dynamic one using DHCP.
                                              • LUCA
                                                What are the ways of assigning the Ip address?
                                                1 year ago
                                              • Charles
                                                Which method is used to assign ip address?
                                                1 year ago
                                                • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network protocol used to assign IP addresses to devices on a network.
                                                • Rosarmosario
                                                  How to allocate ip address for network design?
                                                  1 year ago
                                                  1. Determine the IP address range to be allocated: Determine the total number of IP addresses needed and then calculate the appropriate IP address range based on the number of devices that need to be connected.
                                                  2. Design the subnet mask: Design a subnet mask to divide the IP address range into subnets.
                                                  3. Allocate the IP addresses: Allocate IP addresses to each device on the network based on their individual subnet masks.
                                                  4. Configure the network devices: Configure the network devices with their assigned IP addresses and the appropriate subnet mask.
                                                  5. Test the network: Test the network to ensure that all devices are assigned the correct IP addresses and the network is functioning properly.
                                                  • raimo
                                                    How are IP adresses assigned to nodes in a network?
                                                    1 year ago
                                                    • IP addresses are assigned to nodes in a network through DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). A DHCP server assigns a unique IP address to each node in a network from a pool of available IP addresses. The node then requests a lease from the DHCP server and stores the address for the duration of the lease.
                                                    • mattalic
                                                      When should a network administrator assign static IP addresses to network devices?
                                                      1 year ago
                                                      • A network administrator should assign static IP addresses to network devices when the devices need to be accessed remotely and securely, or when the device needs to host services such as a web server, FTP server, or database. Static IP addresses are also useful for assigning devices to VLANs, managing traffic flow to and from the device, and configuring quality of service (QoS).