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IntermediatePublished 2026-07-02

Router Interface as a DHCP Client (IOS-to-IOS)

Bundle lab

Configure an IOS router as a DHCP server and have another IOS router obtain its uplink address dynamically via DHCP on a shared LAN. Validate the lease from both the client and server perspectives and test reachability from attached hosts.

Track
Est. time
35 minutes
Difficulty
Intermediate
Topics

Learning objectives

  • Configure an IOS router as a DHCP server with a correctly scoped pool, default router, DNS, domain-name, lease, and excluded addresses
  • Configure a router interface to obtain its IP address via DHCP using 'ip address dhcp'
  • Verify DHCP operation from the client (router) and server perspectives
  • Validate host reachability across a DHCP-numbered router interface

Troubleshooting focus

  • Ethernet0/0 on the DHCP client router is up/down or administratively down, so no DHCPDISCOVER is sent
  • DHCP pool network/mask does not match the interface subnet, so the DHCP server never allocates addresses
  • Default-router option in the pool is missing or incorrect, impacting client reachability
  • Excluded-address range overlaps the intended lease space and starves the pool
  • Client side missing 'ip address dhcp' or the interface is statically addressed by mistake

Topology

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Grade your work

How this lab is graded
  • Build it your way. Where a lab lets you choose a value — a VLAN name, an interface description — grading checks that you configured it, not which name you picked. Names that another line has to reference, like an ACL applied with access-class, are stated in the guide and do have to match.
  • Addresses, modes and protocol keywords are exact. An IP address, a subnet mask, switchport mode trunk, an encapsulation — these carry the meaning of the lab, so they are graded as written in the guide.
  • Grading reads your saved configuration. Export the lab from CML after you have configured it, and make sure anything you set is in the running-config — a change that only exists in a terminal session never reaches the grader.
  • You can submit as many times as you like. Your best score stands, and each attempt tells you which checks passed so you can work the gaps.
  • Scored something you believe is correct? Use Report an issue on this page — that is exactly how the grading fixes in the changelog got found.

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