Week 4 Lab Assignment 3
Task1 : LAN with DHCP Server (10 PCs receive addresses automatically)
Goal: Configure DHCP so the 10 PCs obtain IP, mask and gateway automatically.
Devices needed: Router, DHCP Server, Switch, 10 PCs,
Physical setup
1. Add a Server device into the topology and connect it to the switch.
2. Configure server’s static IP: e.g., Server IP = 192.168.1.2, mask 255.255.255.0,
gateway 192.168.1.1.
Configure DHCP service on the Server (GUI)
1. Click Server → Services → DHCP.
2. Turn DHCP On. Set Pool Name (e.g., ServerPOOL), Default Gateway
192.168.1.1, Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0, DNS server 8.8.8.8, Starting
IP 192.168.1.2, Max users 50. Save.
Router interface
Router interface still needs IP 192.168.1.1 as default gateway for PCs.
Activity 1: Verification
On PCs: verify assigned addresses.
Activity 2: Check communication & Simulation details
1. After setting PCs to DHCP and they obtain addresses, test connectivity:
PC1 → PC2 (should ping successfully).
PC1 → Router (ping 192.168.1.1).
2. Switch to Simulation mode and capture the DHCP handshake (if a PC is set to DHCP
and you click "Fast Forward"):
DHCPDISCOVER (Client → UDP broadcast 255.255.255.255:67) — layer
2 broadcast.
DHCPOFFER (Server → UDP unicast/broadcast:67/68) with offered IP.
DHCPREQUEST (Client → asks for that IP).
DHCPACK (Server → final ACK with lease details).
In Packet Tracer you will see UDP packets labeled DHCP, and packet payload
will show OFFER/ACK etc.
3. When you receive IP, you will also see ARP as the client resolves MACs, and ICMP
when you ping.
Task2 : Check whether this is applicable for two different LANs connected with
the router or not.
Activity 1: Verification
On PCs: verify assigned addresses.
Activity 2: Check communication & Simulation details
After setting PCs to DHCP and they obtain addresses, test connectivity:
PC1 → PC2 (should ping successfully).
PC1 → Router (ping 192.168.1.1).
Switch to Simulation mode and capture the DHCP handshake (if a PC is set to DHCP
and you click "Fast Forward"):
DHCPDISCOVER (Client → UDP broadcast 255.255.255.255:67) — layer
2 broadcast.
DHCPOFFER (Server → UDP unicast/broadcast:67/68) with offered IP.
DHCPREQUEST (Client → asks for that IP).
DHCPACK (Server → final ACK with lease details).
In Packet Tracer you will see UDP packets labeled DHCP, and packet payload
will show OFFER/ACK etc.
Activity 3: Check communication between two different LANs.
Activity 4: IP Conflict Simulation within the same LAN
● Goal: Understand what happens if two devices have the same IP.
1. Assign a static IP on one PC that is within the DHCP pool.
2. Observe the conflict message in Packet Tracer when DHCP tries to
assign that IP to another PC.
Activity 5: DHCP Failover / Redundancy
● Goal: Observe network behavior when DHCP server fails.
1. Disconnect the DHCP server from the network.
2. Try to connect a new PC and see if it gets an IP.
3. Reconnect the server and test again.
