A DHCP Based Approach To IP Address Management And Allocation In A Network Using VLSM

Abstract

This purpose of the project is the implementation of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Variable Length Subnet Masking(VLSM) for optimizing Internet Protocol address allocation in a network. DHCP is a widely used protocol that enables automatic IP address allocation to devices on a network while VLSM is a technique used to divide a larger network into smaller subnets, this greatly optimizes the use of IP addresses. Combining DHCP and VLSM can improve the efficiency and scalability of a network by automating the IP address allocation and creating subnets with different sizes based on the number of hosts required. The project’s methodology is by implementing DHCP and VLSM, by providing the necessary configurations and settings required for both DHCP server and clients which includes subnetting a given Network based on the requirements of the user. The implementation will be tested and evaluated to ensure proper functioning and to identify and resolve any potential issues. The project will also cover the use of python libraries and tools to automate the process of DHCP and VLSM. Overall, this project will remove the inadequacies of a Fixed Length Subnet Mask of a Network, which is the study of interest of the project, and demonstrate the benefits of using DHCP and VLSM together for optimal IP address allocation in a network.