Configuring the DHCP server on the SonicWall

10/14/2021 1,869 People found this article helpful 531,552 Views

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Description

The SonicWall security appliance includes a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server to distribute IP addresses, subnet masks, gateway addresses, and DNS server addresses to your network clients. The DHCP Server page includes settings for configuring the SonicWall security appliance’s DHCP server. You can use the SonicWall security appliance’s DHCP server or use existing DHCP servers on your network. If your network uses its own DHCP servers, make sure the Enable DHCP Server checkbox is unchecked.

Resolution

Resolution for SonicOS 7.X

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.5 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 7.X firmware.

Complete the following steps to configure the SonicWall DHCP server for the LAN, DMZ, or other network zones on a SonicWall firewall (UTM) appliance running SonicOS Enhanced or Standard firmware.

Enable DHCP Server

1. Click Network on the top bar.
2. Navigate to SYSTEM | DHCP SERVER | DHCP Server Settings and IPv4 tab.
3. Enable DHCPv4 Server. Make sure there are no other DHCP servers on the LAN before you enable the SonicWall's DHCP server.
4. Optionally, check Enable Conflict Detection. This toggle switch is on by default.
5. Enable DHCP Server Persistence to provide clients with a predictable IP address that does not conflict with another user on the network, even after a client reboot.
   
   
   

Dynamic DHCP Address Assignments

1. Navigate to DHCP Server Lease Scopes and Click Add Dynamic button to add a new dynamic entry button.
2. Enable the toggle switch Enable this DHCP Scope. It is enabled by default.
3. Select the interface to which this DHCP scope applies.
4. Enter the beginning IP address of the desired IP address range in the Range Start field. Enter the ending IP address in the Range End field. Enter the maximum length of the DHCP lease in the Lease Time field. The Lease Time determines how often the DHCP Server renews IP leases. The default Lease Time is 1440 minutes (24 hours). The time length of the lease can range from 1 to 9999 minutes.
5. Select the gateway IP address that will be assigned to DHCP clients using the Gateway Preferences and Default Gateway fields. The available choices in the Gateway Preferences list depend on the IP addresses assigned to the SonicWall's interfaces. Select the Other gateway preference to manually enter an address into the Default Gateway field. If configuring the DHCP server for the LAN, select the gateway address used by LAN computers to access the Internet in the Gateway Preferences list. If a default gateway address has been manually entered, supply the correct value in the subnet mask field.
6. Select the Allow BootP clients to use range checkbox if you want BootP clients to receive DHCP leases.
   
   
   
   DNS/WINS

1. Click DNS/WINS tab.
2. Enter the domain name registered for your network in the Domain Name field. An example of a domain name is your-domain.com. If you do not have a domain name, leave this field blank.
3. Specify the DNS settings to be assigned to DHCP clients. Select the Inherit DNS settings dynamically from the SonicWall's DNS settings radio button to use the DNS servers that you specified on the Network | DNS page. Select the Specify Manually radio button to enter your own DNS servers into the DNS Server 1, DNS Server 2, and DNS Server 3 fields.
4. Specify the WINS servers, if any, to be assigned to DHCP clients. Enter the IP addresses of the WINS servers on your network in the WINS Server 1 and WINS Server 2 fields. If you do not have a WINS server, leave these fields blank.
5. Click OK.
   
   
   
6. Continue this process until you have added or modified all the desired dynamic DHCP address ranges.
   

   NOTE:The DHCP Server does not assign an IP address from the dynamic range if the address is already being used by a computer on your LAN.

   
   
   

Static DHCP Address Assignments

TIP: Static DHCP entries cannot be added for entries that are already in the dynamic scope. You would need to break the Dynamic scope so that it is not a part of the dynamic range before adding these entries.

1. Select Network | System | DHCP Server | DHCP Server Settings and IPv4 tab.
2. Enable the toggle switch Enable DHCP Server. Make sure there are no other DHCP servers on the LAN before you enable the SonicWall's DHCP server.
3. Optionally, check Enable Conflict Detection. This checkbox is on by default.
4. Click Add Static to add a new static entry.
5. Enable the toggle switch for Enable this DHCP Scope. This is ON by default.
6. Select the interface to which this static DHCP address assignment applies.
7. Enter a label for the static DHCP assignment in the Entry Name field.
8. Static IP addresses should be assigned to servers that require permanent IP settings. Enter the IP address assigned to your workstation or server in the Static IP Address field.
9. Select a new mac address from the list in the ethernet address field and enter the ethernet (MAC) address of your workstation or server.
10. Enter the maximum length of the DHCP lease in the Lease Time field. The Lease Time determines how often the DHCP Server renews IP leases. The default Lease Time is 1440 minutes (24 hours). The time length of the lease can range from 1 to 9999 minutes.
11. Select the gateway IP address that will be assigned to DHCP clients using the Gateway Preferences and Default Gateway fields. The available choices in the Gateway Preferences list depend on the IP addresses assigned to the SonicWall's interfaces. Select the Other gateway preference to manually enter an address into the Default Gateway field. If configuring the DHCP server for the LAN, select the gateway address used by LAN computers to access the Internet in the Gateway Preferences list. If a default gateway address has been manually entered, supply the correct value in the Subnet Mask field.
    
    
    
    DNS/WINS

1. Click the DNS/WINS tab.
2. Enter the domain name registered for your network in the Domain Name field. An example of a domain name is your-domain.com. If you do not have a domain name, leave this field blank.
3. Specify the DNS settings to be assigned to DHCP clients. Select the Inherit DNS settings dynamically from the SonicWall's DNS settings radio button to use the DNS servers that you specified on the Network | DNS tab. Select the Specify Manually radio button to enter your own DNS servers into the DNS Server 1, DNS Server 2, and DNS Server 3 fields.
4. Specify the WINS servers, if any, to be assigned to DHCP clients. Enter the IP addresses of the WINS servers on your network in the WINS Server 1 and WINS Server 2 fields. If you do not have a WINS server, leave these fields blank.
5. Click OK.
   Continue this process until you have added all the desired static entries.

 NOTE: Make sure there are no other DHCP servers on the LAN before you enable the DHCP server. The SonicWall DHCP server does not assign an IP address from the dynamic range if the address is already being used by a computer on your LAN.

Resolution for SonicOS 6.5

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

Complete the following steps to configure the SonicWall DHCP server for the LAN, DMZ, or other network zones on a SonicWall firewall (UTM) appliance running SonicOS Enhanced or Standard firmware.

Enable DHCP Server

1. Click Manage on the top bar.
2. Please navigate to NETWORK | DHCP SERVER.
3. Check Enable DHCP Server. Make sure there are no other DHCP servers on the LAN before you enable the SonicWall's DHCP server.
4. Optionally, check Enable Conflict Detection. This checkbox is on by default.
5. Enable DHCP Server Persistence to provide clients with a predictable IP address that does not conflict with another user on the network, even after a client reboot.

Dynamic DHCP Address Assignments

1. Click Add Dynamic button to add a new dynamic entry button.
2. Check Enable this DHCP Scope checkbox. This checkbox is on by default.
3. Select the interface to which this DHCP scope applies.
4. Enter the beginning IP address of the desired IP address range in the Range Start field. Enter the ending IP address in the Range End field. Enter the maximum length of the DHCP lease in the Lease Time field. The Lease Time determines how often the DHCP Server renews IP leases. The default Lease Time is 1440 minutes (24 hours). The time length of the lease can range from 1 to 9999 minutes.
5. Select the gateway IP address that will be assigned to DHCP clients using the Gateway Preferences and Default Gateway fields. The available choices in the Gateway Preferences list depend on the IP addresses assigned to the SonicWall's interfaces. Select the Other gateway preference to manually enter an address into the Default Gateway field. If configuring the DHCP server for the LAN, select the gateway address used by LAN computers to access the Internet in the Gateway Preferences list. If a default gateway address has been manually entered, supply the correct value in the subnet mask field.
6. Select the Allow BootP clients to use range checkbox if you want BootP clients to receive DHCP leases.
   
   DNS/WINS

1. Click DNS/WINS tab.
2. Enter the domain name registered for your network in the Domain Name field. An example of a domain name is your-domain.com. If you do not have a domain name, leave this field blank.
3. Specify the DNS settings to be assigned to DHCP clients. Select the Inherit DNS settings dynamically from the SonicWall's DNS settings radio button to use the DNS servers that you specified on the Network | Settings page in SonicOS Standard firmware or the Network | Interfaces and Network | DNS pages in SonicOS Enhanced. Select the Specify Manually radio button to enter your own DNS servers into the DNS Server 1, DNS Server 2, and DNS Server 3 fields.
4. Specify the WINS servers, if any, to be assigned to DHCP clients. Enter the IP addresses of the WINS servers on your network in the WINS Server 1 and WINS Server 2 fields. If you do not have a WINS server, leave these fields blank.
5. Click OK.
   
6. Continue this process until you have added or modified all the desired dynamic DHCP address ranges.
   

   NOTE: The DHCP Server does not assign an IP address from the dynamic range if the address is already being used by a computer on your LAN.

   
   

   
   
   

Static DHCP Address Assignments

TIP: Static DHCP entries cannot be added for entries that are already in the dynamic scope. You would need to break the Dynamic scope so that it is not a part of the dynamic range before adding these entries.

1. Select Network | DHCP Server.
2. Check Enable DHCP Server. Make sure there are no other DHCP servers on the LAN before you enable the SonicWall's DHCP server.
3. Optionally, check Enable Conflict Detection. This checkbox is on by default.
4. Click Edit icon next to an existing DHCP server lease scope or click  Add a new static entry button.
5. Check Enable this DHCP Scope. This checkbox is on by default.
6. Select the interface to which this static DHCP address assignment applies.
7. Enter a label for the static DHCP assignment in the Entry Name field.
8. Static IP addresses should be assigned to servers that require permanent IP settings. Enter the IP address assigned to your workstation or server in the Static IP Address field.
9. Select a new mac address from the list in the ethernet address field and enter the ethernet (MAC) address of your workstation or server.
10. Enter the maximum length of the DHCP lease in the Lease Time field. The Lease Time determines how often the DHCP Server renews IP leases. The default Lease Time is 1440 minutes (24 hours). The time length of the lease can range from 1 to 9999 minutes.
11. Select the gateway IP address that will be assigned to DHCP clients using the Gateway Preferences and Default Gateway fields. The available choices in the Gateway Preferences list depend on the IP addresses assigned to the SonicWall's interfaces. Select the Other gateway preference to manually enter an address into the Default Gateway field. If configuring the DHCP server for the LAN, select the gateway address used by LAN computers to access the Internet in the Gateway Preferences list. If a default gateway address has been manually entered, supply the correct value in the Subnet Mask field.
    
    DNS/WINS

1. Click the DNS/WINS tab.
2. Enter the domain name registered for your network in the Domain Name field. An example of a domain name is your-domain.com. If you do not have a domain name, leave this field blank.
3. Specify the DNS settings to be assigned to DHCP clients. Select the Inherit DNS settings dynamically from the SonicWall's DNS settings radio button to use the DNS servers that you specified on the Network | Settings page in SonicOS Standard firmware or the Network | Interfaces and Network | DNS pages in SonicOS Enhanced. Select the Specify Manually radio button to enter your own DNS servers into the DNS Server 1, DNS Server 2, and DNS Server 3 fields.
4. Specify the WINS servers, if any, to be assigned to DHCP clients. Enter the IP addresses of the WINS servers on your network in the WINS Server 1 and WINS Server 2 fields. If you do not have a WINS server, leave these fields blank.
5. Click OK.
   Continue this process until you have added all the desired static entries.

NOTE: Make sure there are no other DHCP servers on the LAN before you enable the DHCP server. The SonicWall DHCP server does not assign an IP address from the dynamic range if the address is already being used by a computer on your LAN.

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