Setting up DHCP in Windows Server 2019

In my recently published book (Windows Server 2019 Automation with PowerShell), I included several recipes to show how to install DHCP, how to setup a scope, and how to setup DHCP load balancing and fail over. This blog post looks at the steps involved.

In this walk through, I assume you have two servers on which you wish to run DHCP. Many smaller organisations install DHCP on their DCs for simplicity – I’m assuming the two servers are DC1.Reskit.Org and DC2.Reskit.Org. You also need to determine what IP addresses to hand out (this sample uses the rante 10.10.10.150-10.10.10.199), the subnet mask (255.255.255.0), and an IP address for the DHCP Server.

Hree are the steps:

1. Install DHCP Service on DC1, DC2

# Create a script block
$SB1 = {
  # Install the service
  Install-WindowsFeature -Name DHCP -IncludeManagementTools
  # Add the DHCP server's security groups
  Add-DHCPServerSecurityGroup
  # Let DHCP know it's all configured
  $RegHT = @{
    Path  = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ServerManager\Roles\12'
    Name  = 'ConfigurationState'
    Value = 2  }
  Set-ItemProperty @RegHT
}
# Run the script block on DC1, DC2
Invoke-Command –Computer DC1 –ScriptBlock $SB1
Invoke-Command –Computer DC2 –ScriptBlock $SB1
# Authorise the DHCP server in AD
Add-DhcpServerInDC -DnsName DC1.Reskit.Org
Add-DhcpServerInDC -DnsName DC2.Reskit.Org
# Restart the DHCP Service on DC1, DC2
$SB2 = {
  Restart-Service -Name DHCPServer –Force
}
Invoke-Command –Computer DC1 –ScriptBlock $SB2
Invoke-Command –Computer DC2 –ScriptBlock $SB2

2. Create a DHCP Scope

# Add new DHCP Scope to DC1
$SHT = @{
  Name = 'Reskit'
  StartRange   = '10.10.10.150'
  EndRange     = '10.10.10.199'
  SubnetMask   = '255.255.255.0'
  ComputerName = 'DC1.Reskit.Org'
}
Add-DhcpServerV4Scope @SHT

3. Configure DHCP Server Options

# Set DHCP V4 Server Option Values
$OHT = @{
  ComputerName = 'DC1.Reskit.Org'
  DnsDomain    = 'Reskit.Org'
  DnsServer    = '10.10.10.10'
}
Set-DhcpServerV4OptionValue @OHT

4. Configure Fail Over/Load Balancing between DC1 and DC2

$FHT = @{
  ComputerName       = 'DC1.Reskit.Org'
  PartnerServer      = 'DC2.Reskit.Org'
  Name               = 'DC1-DC2'
  ScopeID            = '10.10.10.0'
  LoadBalancePercent = 60
  SharedSecret       = 'j3RryIsG0d!'
  Force              = $true
}
Add-DhcpServerv4Failover @FHT

After you complete these two steps, both DC1 and DC2 are able to satisfy DHCP configuration requests on the 10.10.10/0 subnet, can provide some options to DHCP clients along with offered IP address and the subnet mask, and is in a fail over/load balancing relationship.