DHCP server

A DHCP server provides an address from a defined address range to a client on the network, when requested.

You can configure one or more DHCP servers on any FortiGate interface. A DHCP server dynamically assigns IP addresses to hosts on the network connected to the interface. The host computers must be configured to obtain their IP addresses using DHCP.

You can configure a FortiGate interface as a DHCP relay. The interface forwards DHCP requests from DHCP clients to an external DHCP server and returns the responses to the DHCP clients. The DHCP server must have appropriate routing so that its response packets to the DHCP clients arrive at the unit.

For more information about options, see:

• DHCP options
• IP address assignment with relay agent information option
• DHCP client options

Configure DHCP on the FortiGate

To add a DHCP server on the GUI:

1. Go to Network > Interfaces.
2. Edit an interface.
3. Enable the DHCP Server option and configure the settings.

To add a DHCP server on the CLI:

config system dhcp server
    edit 1
        set dns-service default
        set default-gateway 192.168.1.2
        set netmask 255.255.255.0
        set interface "port1"
        config ip-range
            edit 1
                set start-ip 192.168.1.1
                set end-ip 192.168.1.1
            next
            edit 2
                set start-ip 192.168.1.3
                set end-ip 192.168.1.254
            next
        end
        set timezone-option default
        set tftp-server "172.16.1.2"
    next
end