DHCP needs updated and a built in DHCP Manager

Question

After dealing with DHCP for a while now, I have learned how much DHCP services is lacking with Microsoft. I am hoping this will eventually find a developer who can implement a new method for DHCP on windows server. In my honest opinion, when you setup DHCP role, it needs a built in DHCP manager. Meaning, when you open DHCP, it'll ask what servers are associated. Something like this.

DHCP

Domain

Servers
-hostname.domain.com

-hostname.domain.com

-hostname.domain.com

IPv4

-scopes (etc.)

IPv6

-scopes (etc.)

Then you wouldn't have to manually configure failover, whatever scopes are created are shared on ALL servers within the domain (just like AD, whatever a server is authorized it shares OU, GPO, etc.)

you could configure each server in the DHCP manager to have a priority so that if and when it goes down, the second in line would immediately pick up as primary, limiting downtime or issues.

I find it really frustrating trying to setup new DHCP servers and having to migrate everything. In addition to this, i find this method would make managing DHCP much easier. I don't understand how AD, DNS, NPAS, etc all have this functionality, but DHCP does not.

Thank you for your attention on this manner, I hope this can be implemented in a patch, or a newer version of Windows Server.

---

Moved from: Community Center | Discuss the Q&A site | Site suggestion

Answer 1

Hello BeemKyle-2160

You are correct that DHCP currently requires manual configuration for failover and scope replication, unlike AD or DNS which natively replicate across domain controllers. At present, the supported method is to configure DHCP failover partnerships or use split scopes, but these approaches do not provide the seamless, domain-wide replication you described.

Your suggestion is very insightful, and we could learn a lot from your observation. I guess In the meantime, we should continuing with DHCP failover configurations to maintain high availability.

If this answer helps clarify the current state and options, please hit “Accept Answer” 🙂.

Harry.

Answer 2

Your feedback regarding the DHCP management in Windows Server is noted. Currently, the DHCP role does not include a built-in manager that automatically shares configurations across all servers in a domain like Active Directory does. Instead, DHCP failover relationships must be manually configured between servers to ensure high availability and continuity of service. Each DHCP server maintains its own lease database and requires manual synchronization of settings when changes are made.

The existing DHCP failover specifications allow for two DHCP servers to work together, but they do not automatically share scopes or settings across multiple servers without manual intervention. This can indeed lead to challenges when setting up new servers or migrating configurations.

While your suggestion for a more integrated DHCP management system is valid, any changes or enhancements would need to be considered by the development team at Microsoft for future versions of Windows Server. For now, utilizing PowerShell and Server Manager can help streamline some of the management tasks, but it does not fully address the need for a centralized management interface as you described.

---

References:

• DHCP failover specifications
• Manage DHCP failover relationships in Windows Server