Make Windows 7 act as a DHCP Server

Question

Hi,

is it possible to make Windows 7 act as a DHCP server (IP address provider) for a LAN? If yes, is it still possible even if Internet Connection Sharing is activated (and so Windows 7 configures static IP adresses)?

Thanks.

Answer 1

To the best of my knowledge, the only way to make Windows 7 act as a DHCP server (without 3rd-party software) is to enable Internet Connection Sharing.  ICS assigns a static IP address to the host computer's LAN connection, and its DHCP server assigns dynamic IP addresses to the other LAN computers.

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Boulder Computer Maven

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

Answer 2

I didn't recommend disabling UMTS prior to enabling ICS.  Do that after enabling ICS, in order to change the Local Area network from "Public" to "Home" or "Work".

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Boulder Computer Maven

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

Answer 3

I tried this suggestion to allow my Dishnetwork receiver and samsung blu-ray player share over the ICS connection.  Even with 67,68,1317 UDP exceptions added, no IP address passed.  I was able to manually set the IP address on the blu-ray player and it works.  Unfortunately, Dish receiver ONLY uses DHCP and I cannot connect.

Just for clarification, when I set those UDP exceptions, I used the IP address of my wireless router (not the ICS host IP).  Correct?

Any other words of wisdom to try?  Can a 3rd party DHCP co-exist with ICS.....MS says not to do it, but who listens to them :) ----> they also said to not use a manual IP on the client, but it worked fine.

Answer 4

I'll make a few assumptions here, but:  You have an established internet connection, but want to share the internet off of another card?  For instance, your computer is connect via a wireless router, but you have an Xbox360/Playstation3/etc connected via wire from the PC?  You turn on ICS and your wired device isn't resolving an IP address?

The solution is rather simple, no need to setup a DHCP server or use 3rd party software.  Under Networks and Sharing Center, click on the connection you wish to share.  Click Properties and then select the Sharing Tab.  Click the Settings button.  You will see a list of services available for this connection.  You'll need to add two.  Click the "Add", Give the new service a name (I use DHCP 67 and DHCP 68 respectively, but it really doesn't matter).  Put in the IP Address of your router in the next field and put 67 in the Internal and External port numbers.  Click OK, then repeat with Port 68.

This will allow all connections on the wired connect to "pass through" the shared connection to pull IP and DNS from the router.

Answer 5

It doesn't matter whether a network is identified as "Work" or "Home".  They're the same thing.

You don't need to change the name of the network.  It's OK for it to be listed as "Unidentified network".

Is something not working correctly?  Can both computers access the Internet?

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Boulder Computer Maven

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional