If you’ve ever had to set up a network, you know just how frustrating it can be. While a simple home network with a laptop or two can be set up in just minutes using plug and play equipment, setting up a bigger network can be more time consuming – and a bigger hassle. One of the most frustrating things you may encounter is connection problems. Maybe it’s just your computer that doesn’t connect to the internet. Perhaps your coworkers are also having problems, or maybe your customers using your free Wi-Fi are also having connection problems. While these problems aren’t necessarily easy to diagnose and do require troubleshooting, there are a few things you can quickly and easily check. One of those things is your DHCP range.
First things first - what is DHCP?
Fully understanding the settings and components of your network can get confusing, so let’s break this down so it’s easier to understand. DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. In short, it is a service that lets your router automatically assign IP addresses to anything that connects to your network.
DHCP has to be enabled and can be enabled or disabled through your settings menu. Through the settings menu, you can also see a list of the devices connected to your network, which is your DHCP Client List. You can also view and adjust your DHCP Range.
What is DHCP range?
The DHCP range - sometimes called the DHCP scope or address pool - is the block of IP addresses that the server is allowed to hand out to clients. In other words, you choose a start and end address, and devices that connect are assigned an address from somewhere inside that range.
You can also exclude any addresses that do not need to be used by clients. For example, if your wireless printer is connected through one IP address, this can be listed as an exclusion so that your clients do not connect to this IP and sever the connection.
Defining your range
When defining your range, keep all of the addresses within the local subnet, and leave out any addresses you want to assign manually. For example, on a typical home router using 192.168.1.x, you might reserve 192.168.1.2 through 192.168.1.99 for static or reserved devices and let DHCP hand out 192.168.1.100 through 192.168.1.254.
Setting your range
As with any other network setting, the exact steps may vary slightly from router to router. If there is any confusion, consult your owner’s manual or visit your router manufacturer’s website for instructions and troubleshooting tips.
To begin, type your IP address into your browser’s search bar. This will allow you to access your router settings. In general, you should be able to access and update your range through the LAN menu. It may also be called LAN setup or LAN configuration. From here, you will be able to adjust your range, set up lease times, create and name new scopes, and configure other DHCP options that allow all your devices to connect seamlessly and maintain a reliable connection.
