Enable address conflict detection

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To enable address conflict detection

Open DHCP.
In the console tree, click the applicable DHCP server.

Where?
- DHCP/applicable DHCP server
On the Action menu, click Properties.
Click the Advanced tab.
For Conflict detection attempts, type a number greater than 0 (zero) and less than six, and then click OK.

The number you type determines how many times the DHCP server tests an IP address before leasing it to a client.

Notes

To open DHCP, click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click DHCP.
When conflict detection attempts are set, the DHCP server uses the Packet Internet Groper (ping) process to test available scope IP addresses before including these addresses in DHCP lease offers to clients.
A successful ping means the IP address is in use on the network. Therefore, the DHCP server does not offer to lease the address to a client. If the ping request fails and times out, the IP address is not in use on the network. In this case, the DHCP server offers to lease the address to a client.
Each additional conflict detection attempt delays the DHCP server response by a second while waiting for the ping request to time out. This increases the load on the server. A value of no greater than two (2) for ping attempts is recommended.

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.