Lab 7: DHCP Manual Bindings (Reservations)

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Configure a Cisco IOS router as a DHCP server with a general LAN pool and a per-host manual binding (reservation) so that CLIENT-A always receives 172.20.10.5 based on its MAC, while CLIENT-B receives a normal dynamic address from the same subnet. Verify with router show commands and Linux host tools. Focus strictly on DHCP: pool scope, excluded addresses, options, and a hardware-address-tied manual binding.

Learning objectives

• Build a correctly scoped DHCP pool on an IOS router for a /24 LAN
• Reserve a fixed IP for a specific client using a manual binding tied to the client's MAC (hardware-address)
• Exclude the reserved address block from the general pool
• Set DHCP options: default-router, dns-server, domain-name, and lease time
• Verify bindings and pool utilization with IOS show commands and Linux client tools

Troubleshooting focus

• Wrong MAC format or value in the manual-binding pool prevents the reservation from taking effect
• General pool overlaps with excluded addresses or host reservation
• Pool network/mask does not match the router’s interface subnet
• DHCP service not effectively reachable due to interface down or client not renewing
• Clients retain old leases; force a renew (udhcpc) to test new configuration