Enterprise Network Setup with Windows Server

A step-by-step guide to setting up an enterprise-level network environment using Hyper-V, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2022. Includes AD domain setup, DHCP, DFS, PowerShell automation, and more.

View the Project on GitHub hexwarrior6/Enterprise-Network-Setup-with-Windows-Server

Chapter 3: Configuring the DHCP Server

In this chapter, we will configure the DHCP service to automatically assign IP addresses to clients and implement DHCP failover, simplifying network management and enabling a highly available network environment.

Install the DHCP Role

  1. Open Server Manager on DC01
    Click Manage -> Add Roles and Features from the top menu

    img_1.png

  2. In the Add Roles and Features Wizard, select Server Roles from the left menu and check DHCP Server.
    When prompted, click Add Features, then continue clicking Next

    img_2.png

  3. On the confirmation page, click Install to begin installing the DHCP role

    img_3.png

  4. After installation completes, click Complete DHCP Configuration to continue with post-install setup

    img_4.png

Configure the DHCP Server

  1. On the DHCP Configuration Wizard page, click Next

    img_5.png

  2. Leave settings as default and click Commit to complete basic configuration

    img_6.png

  3. After configuration, click Close to proceed to the next step

    img_7.png

Configure Primary DHCP Scope (DC01)

  1. From the server console, open Tools -> DHCP

    img_8.png

  2. Right-click on IPv4 and select New Scope to open the New Scope Wizard

    img_9.png

  3. Enter a scope name such as bread-makers DHCP, then click Next

    img_11.png

  4. Set the IP address range:
    • Start IP: 192.168.1.100
    • End IP: 192.168.1.200
      Click Next

    img_12.png

  5. Set the exclusion range:
    • Start IP: 192.168.1.100
    • End IP: 192.168.1.110
      (This range is reserved for servers and other static devices)
      Click Add to include it in exclusions, then click Next

    img_13.png

  6. Keep the lease duration at the default (8 hours), click Next

    img_14.png

  7. Choose whether to configure DHCP options now – click Next

    img_15.png

  8. Set the router (default gateway):
    • Add both domain controller IPs as default gateways:
      • 192.168.1.100 (DC01)
      • 192.168.1.101 (DC02)
        Click Next

    img_16.png

  9. Keep the domain name and DNS server settings as default, click Next

    img_17.png

  10. Keep WINS server settings as default, click Next

    img_18.png

  11. Select to activate the DHCP scope, click Next

    img_19.png

  12. The wizard is complete – click Finish to finish configuration

    img_20.png

✅ Verification Step:

In the DHCP management interface, expand bread-makers DHCP -> Address Pool. You should see the successfully created IP range: 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.200.

img_21.png

Configure DHCP Failover (DC01)

Before completing this section, ensure that the DHCP server role has already been installed on DC02. Refer to the earlier steps:

  1. On DC01, open Tools -> DHCP

    img_22.png

  2. Right-click on IPv4 and select Configure Failover to open the Configure Failover Wizard

    img_23.png

  3. Since there’s only one DHCP scope currently, it will be selected automatically – click Next

    img_24.png

  4. On the “Select Partner Server” page, click Add Server -> Browse, and enter DC02
    Click Check to verify all tabs are green, then click Next

    img_25.png

  5. Set a shared secret (recommended to use a strong password) for secure communication, then click Next

    img_26.png

  6. Review the configuration summary and click Finish to complete the wizard

    img_27.png

✅ Verification Step:

On DC02, open the DHCP manager and expand bread-makers DHCP -> Address Pool. You should see the synchronized IP range 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.200, confirming that failover has been successfully configured.

img_28.png

Summary

In this chapter, we completed the following tasks:

In the next chapter, we will explore how to set up DFS (Distributed File System) to enable enterprise-level file sharing and storage management.