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Lab 8: Setup and Configure a DHCP Server

Lab Preparation​

DO NOT START THIS LAB BEFORE SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTING LABS 1-7: This lab will change some system values that make previous lab checks fail. For best results, confirm with your professor before proceeding.

Overview​

There are different ways in which computers can be networked together. Some computer networks (such as computer labs) configure their workstations for static IP addresses for security and to provide other interesting features such as WOL (Wake Up on Lan) which allows a signal from a computer system to remotely start all or specified workstations within the lab.

DHCP Pic

Hot-spots (such as cafes or airport lounges) offer the ability for users to connect to the Internet (via DHCP) from their mobile devices (notebooks, netbooks, tablets, or smart phones). Finally, there are hybrid solutions that may offer both fixed IP address (computer workstations) and allow for wireless connections (via DHCP) to a mobile devices (like at your Seneca computer labs).

In lab6, you learned to connect your VMs to a network using a fixed IP Address. In this final lab, you will learn to set-up a DHCP server to automatically assign IP Addresses upon connection requests.

Main Objectives

  • To install, configure, and test Internet Systems Consortium's (ISC's) DHCP Server.
  • To obtain log information from DHCP server including lease address information.
  • To lease the same IP address every-time from VM boot-up (instead of having DHCP server randomly assign IP address).

Minimum Required Materials​

  • Solid State Drive
  • USB key (for backups)
  • Lab8 Log Book

Linux Command Reference​

Networking Utilities

Managing Services

Additional Utilities

Configuration Files

Investigation 1: Install And Configure A DHCP Server​

This lab will demonstrate setting up a DHCP server. The term DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. DHCP allows computers (eg. workstations, notebooks, smart-phones) to be automatically configured so that they can communicate over a network. This automatic configuration has gained popularity over the years, especially as the need for detecting and configuring portable computer devices increases. DHCP configuration allows for various setups including: Dynamic, Automatic, and Static allocation.

DORA

The term DORA best describes how DHCP Works:

TermUsage
DiscoveryThe client broadcasts a message (IP lease request) on a sub-network to discover available DHCP servers.
OfferThe DHCP server receives the request from the client, reserves an IP ADDRESS for the client and sends a DHCPOFFER to the client.
RequestAfter receiving a DHCPOFFER, the DHCP client broadcasts a message request for acceptance (DHCPREQUEST) to all DHCP servers and, in doing so, the DHCP client notifies all DHCP servers which DHCP server this DHCP client is requesting acceptance from.
AcknowledgementThe DHCP server identified in the DHCPREQUEST sends a message of acceptance to the client and the client then receives from that DHCP server a packet of information containing the lease duration and other configuration information.

Part 1: Installation of a DHCP​

VM Backups and Yum Updates

Before proceeding with this lab make certain that you have backed-up from lab7, and then perform a yum update on all machines (including your VMs)

Perform the following steps:

  1. Launch your c7host machine and your centos3 VM.

  2. Switch to your centos3 VM.

    • The version of DHCP server that comes with CentOS is maintained and distributed by the Internet Software Consortium (https://www.isc.org/). The source package that you can download from ISC includes not only the DHCP server, but also a DHCP client and a DHCP relay agent. CentOS separates it into two RPM packages: the DHCP client package and the DHCP server package. The DHCP client package is installed by default by the workstation installation.

  3. To check that you have dhcp installed, enter the command:

rpm -qa dhcp
  1. If there are no files displayed, then issue the following command to install the dhcp server package:
sudo yum install -y dhcp
  1. Again, enter the command to list all the files installed from the DHCP server package by issuing the command:
rpm -qla dhcp
  1. Which file appears to be a sample (example) configuration file for dhcpd.conf?
  2. While you could copy the dhcpd.conf.example file to the /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf, it is recommended that you start a new /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf from scratch.

Part 2: Configuring the DHCP Server​

Perform the following steps:

  1. Remain in your centos3 VM for this section.

  2. Click on the following link to access the online manual page for the following DHCP items to gain an understanding:

  3. Study the sample dhcpd.conf file to see examples of how these options are used.

  4. Review the contents of /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf file (see the picture) and examine the top section of the file.

  5. Be advised: "option definitions common to all supported networks". Change the existing global options with the newer values shown below, if the dhcpd.conf file is empty, add them manually:

option domain-name "ops245.org";
option domain-name-servers 192.168.245.1;
default-lease-time 1200;
max-lease-time 3600;
  • Note: Any values for time are stated in seconds.
  1. View your editing sessions for typos (check for missing semicolons), then save and exit your editing session.

DHCP Config

The dhcpd.config file allows the Linux system administrator to customize the DCHP server. Generally in this file are global settings (options that apply throughout entire network) and subnet declarations (options that apply only to that subnet). Whenever changes are made to this file, the DCHP service needs to be restarted to allow new settings to take effect.

NOTE: Any errors in this file (such as typos or missing semi-colons) can cause the DHCP server not to restart!

Part 3: Configuring DHCP Server for Static IP Addresses​

Recall Secure SSH Connection Method from Lab7

Do not forget that you made ssh more secure in the previous lab. Therefore, you will need to use the same command in lab7 to securely connect to your VM.

Perform the following steps:

  1. Remain in your centos3 VM for this section.

  2. Edit /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf for a second time.

  3. View this file for existing subnet declarations. Note the syntax and the directive for range and the option for routers (gateway).

  4. Now, add a new subnet declaration for your virtual network:

    • The network address is: 192.168.245.0/255.255.255.0
    • range of host addresses should be from: 51 to 60
    • default gateway (routers) for the virtual network is: 192.168.245.1

  5. Save your editing session, and exit the text editor.

  6. Open another terminal window (Tip: ssh into your centos3 VM from your c7host as root) and issue the following command:

tail -f /var/log/messages
  • (This will show you the last lines of /var/log/messages continue to display new lines as they are added to the log for confirmation and troubleshooting.)
  1. In your centos3 terminal, attempt to start the dhcpd service.
  2. You should see new lines being added to the messages file.
  3. If the dhcpd service fails to start any error messages will be logged in the messages file. Read the errors and attempt to fix your configuration file.
  4. If the dhcpd service starts successfully you should see success messages in the log.
  5. If your dhcpd service starts successfully, try to generate errors by editing the configuration file and introduce an error by removing a semicolon or closing curly bracket.
  6. Restart your dhcpd service and observe the error messages generated. This is good practice to learn how to trouble-shoot and solve dhcpd errors.
  7. Make certain that you have corrected those errors, and that your dhcpd service works properly.
  8. Once the dhcpd service has is running, use the systemctl command to see if the dhcpd service is enabled (Hint: use a pipeline command using grep to detect the pattern: enabled). If it is not enabled, use the systemctl command to enable the dhcpd service so it started automatically upon boot-up.

Troubleshooting Tip:

Troubleshooting produces the best results when you are methodical in your approach. Try to fix the first error mentioned before fixing subsequent errors. Often the first error may cause multiple error messages as the configuration file is parsed. When you think you have fixed the first error try to start your service and if it fails check the log again. Fix one error at a time.

Part 4: How do I test my dhcpd service on my virtual network?​

Identifying DHCP Lease Transaction Information

These messages record the DHCP lease transaction that consists of 4 broadcast packets, DISCOVER, OFFER, REQUEST and ACKNOWLEDGE. Try researching on the internet how this transaction differs from a DHCP lease renewal.

Perform the following steps:

  1. Use your centos1 and centos3 VMs for this section.
  2. On your centos3 terminal window (via ssh from your c7hsot machine) make sure that the command below is running
tail -f /var/log/messages

  1. On your centos1 VM, Graphically change the configuration of eth0 (or your interface name) to receive dynamic address configuration (i.e. via graphical application, for IVP4 tab, change Address from Manual to DHCP, and Apply settings) (Refer to Lab6, Investigation1, Part2).

    • Note: if you are configuring via command line, make certain to restart the network for centos1.

  2. Logout and restart your centos1 VM.

  3. Observe the messages that get logged from the tail -f command as your centos1 VM starts. You should see output similar to the following:

Mar 22 02:09:49 centos3 dhcpd: DHCPDISCOVER from 52:54:00:7c:85:13 via eth0
Mar 22 02:09:50 centos3 dhcpd: DHCPOFFER on 192.168.245.51 to 52:54:00:7c:85:13 (centos1) via eth0
Mar 22 02:09:50 centos3 dhcpd: DHCPREQUEST for 192.168.245.51 (192.168.245.13) from 52:54:00:7c:85:13 (centos1) via eth0
Mar 22 02:09:50 centos3 dhcpd: DHCPACK on 192.168.245.51 to 52:54:00:7c:85:13 (centos1) via eth0
  1. On your centos1 VM, open a terminal, andconfirm the IP address assignment using
ip address show
  1. Has the IP Address changed? If so, how has the IP Address been assigned according to the dhcpd.conf file settings?

Answer INVESTIGATION 1 observations / questions in your lab log book.

Investigation 2: Obtaining Lease and Lease Permanent IP Address Information​

Part 1: Obtaining Leased Address Infomation​

Purpose of dhcpd.leases File

dhcpd records address leases in this file. If the service is restarted it reads in the file to know which addresses are currently leased and for how long.

Perform the following steps:

  1. Remain in your centos1 and centos3 VMs for this section.
  2. If your centos3 DHCP server successfully issued the proper IP address configuration values to centos1, check the file called: /var/lib/dhcpd/dhcpd.leases in your centos3 VM. You should get the similar contents:
lease 192.168.245.51 {
   starts 1 2021/03/22 01:07:00;
   ends 1 2021/03/22 01:27:00;
   cltt 1 2021/03/22 01:07:00;
   binding state active;
   next binding state free;
   rewind binding state free;
   hardware ethernet 52:54:00:ba:75:a8;
}

  1. On the client centos1 check the contents of the /var/lib/dhclient directory. The files in this directory is where the dhclient stores its record of leases.

    • NOTE: If there are no files, then in a shell in your centos1 VM issue the command: sudo dhclient eth0
    • Then check to see if there is file containing lease information in that directory. You should get the similar contents:
lease {
   interface "eth0";
   fixed-address 192.168.245.52;
   option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;
   option routers 192.168.245.1;
   option dhcp-lease-time 1200;
   option dhcp-message-type 5;
   option domain-name-servers 192.168.245.1;
   option dhcp-server-identifier 192.168.245.13;
   option domain-name "ops245.org";
   renew 2 2021/03/22 02:23:06;
   rebind 2 2021/03/22 02:31:52;
   expire 2 2021/03/22 02:34:22;
}

Answer Part 1 observations / questions in your lab log book.

Part 2: Configuring DHCP server to Continually Lease Same IP Address​

Reserving IP Addresses with DHCP

Even though DHCP gives out IP address dynamically, it also has the ability to reserve an IP address for a certain computer. In this sense it's almost as if the client computer has a static IP even though it uses DHCP to get it. This is useful if you want to be able to put entries in your /etc/hosts file and not have to worry about the entry becoming invalid over time. In Linux we refer to this as supplying a fixed address to a host. Microsoft calls it a reservation.

Perform the following steps:

  1. Remain in your centos1 and cento3 VMs for this section.

  2. Make certain that you are located in your centos3 virtual machine.

  3. Edit the dchpd.conf file and make the following changes:

    • Create a host declaration with the name: centos1 (tip: search for the key-word "host" in the text editor to see an example, if it is empty, do a little research on the Internet).
    • Set the hardware ethernet option for the MAC address of the eth0 on your centos1 VM.
    • Set the fixed-address option to the ip address: 192.168.245.42
    • Note: When supplying fixed-address it is important that the address assigned is exclusive of any ranges that have been declared. Otherwise it may be possible for 2 different hosts to receive the same address.

  4. Restart the dhcpd service and test the address assignment by releasing your current address on centos1 and then requesting a new address. Use the following commands on centos1:

ifdown eth0
ifup eth0
  1. Confirm that you received the fixed address you were supposed to.

Answer INVESTIGATION 2 observations / questions in your lab log book.

Lab 8 Sign-Off (Show Instructor)​

Follow the submission instructions for lab 8 on Blackboard.

Time for a new backup!

If you have successfully completed this lab, make a new backup of your virtual machines as well as your host machine.

Perform the Following Steps:

  1. Make certain ALL of your centos1 and centos3 VMs are running.
  2. Switch to your c7host VM and change to your user's bin directory.
  3. Issue the Linux command:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/OPS245/labs/main/lab8-check.bash
  1. Give the lab8-check.bash file execute permissions (for the file owner).
  2. Run the shell script and if any warnings, make fixes and re-run shell script until you receive "congratulations" message.
  3. Arrange proof of the following on the screen:

  • centos1 VM:

    • ip address show shows IP address 192.168.245.42
    • DHCP client lease file

  • centos3 VM:

    • DHCP server log file showing a lease occuring
    • DHCP server configuration file showing subnet and host declaration
    • DHCP server lease file

  • Lab8 log-book filled out.

  1. Upload a screenshot of the proof from the previous step along with your logbook, and the file generated by lab8-check.bash.

Practice For Quizzes, Tests, Midterm, and Final Exam​

  1. What protocol and port does dhcp use?
  2. What file is used to configure dhcpd?
  3. Can a dhcp server also be a dhcp client?
  4. What is the difference between max-lease-time and default-lease-time?
  5. What unit of measurement does default-lease-time require?
  6. What dhcp option is used for configuring a default gateway?
  7. What is the parameter range in the DHCP server configuration file used for?
  8. What is the purpose of a dhcp relay agent?
  9. Why might a dhcp relay agent be required?