Network preparations for configuring DHCP/Bootp

In its default configuration, the switch is configured for DHCP/Bootp operation. However, the DHCP/Bootp feature will not acquire IP addressing for the switch unless the following tasks have already been completed:

  • For Bootp operation
    • A Bootp database record has already been entered into an appropriate Bootp server

    • The necessary network connections are in place

    • The Bootp server is accessible from the switch

  • For DHCP operation
    • A DHCP scope has been configured on the appropriate DHCP server

    • The necessary network connections are in place

    • A DHCP server is accessible from the switch

NOTE:

Designating a primary VLAN other than the default VLAN affects the switch’s use of information received via DHCP/Bootp. For more on this topic, See the describing VLANs in the Advanced Traffic Management Guide for your switch.

After you reconfigure or reboot the switch with DHCP/Bootp enabled in a network providing DHCP/Bootp service, the switch does the following:

  • Receives an IP address and subnet mask and, if configured in the server, a gateway IP address and the address of a Timep server.

  • If the DHCP/Bootp reply provides information for downloading a configuration file, the switch uses TFTP to download the file from the designated source, then reboots itself. (This assumes that the switch or VLAN has connectivity to the TFTP file server specified in the reply, that the configuration file is correctly named, and that the configuration file exists in the TFTP directory.)