The DHCP Server service is integrated with Active Directory to provide authorization for DHCP servers. A DHCP server, which is a domain controller or a member of an Active Directory domain, queries Active Directory for the list of authorized servers. If its own IP address is not in the list of authorized DHCP servers, the DHCP Server service does not complete its start up sequence and automatically shuts down.
For a DHCP server, which is not a member of the Active Directory domain, the DHCP Server service sends a DHCPInform message. The other DHCP servers on the network respond with a DHCPAck message, which contains information that the querying DHCP server uses to locate the Active Directory root domain. The starting DHCP server then queries Active Directory for a list of authorized DHCP servers and starts the DHCP Server service only if its own address is in the list.
For a DHCP server, which is not a member of the Active Directory domain, the DHCP Server service sends a DHCPInform message. The other DHCP servers on the network respond with a DHCPAck message, which contains information that the querying DHCP server uses to locate the Active Directory root domain. The starting DHCP server then queries Active Directory for a list of authorized DHCP servers and starts the DHCP Server service only if its own address is in the list.