Configuring the DHCP Service with a Scope

The DHCP scope provides the range of IP addresses that the server can hand out to requesting DHCP clients. The DHCP server can’t function without a scope. The scope includes a start address (for the range of IP addresses) and an end address. IP address scopes may also include an exclusion range.

You may also want to exclude some of the IP addresses from the scope on computers that require static IP addresses (for example, your DHCP server requires a static IP address). Other devices on the network, such as routers and some printers (those directly connected to the network), also require static IP addresses, so the exclusion range that you specify might include a number of IP addresses. (Remember that this is supposed to be a range of addresses that are excluded, so pick a logical starting and stopping point in the address scope that is available.) Exclusion ranges are discussed later in this hour.