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When there are multiple DHCP servers on a network, what determines which one will be used?

I have a DHCP server on the network dishing out addresses between 192.168.40.50 - 192.168.40.100
All workstations are dynamic DHCP.
If I add another DHCP server issuing addresses between 192.168.40.100 - 192.168.40.150, will it simply be a race to see which server responds to the workstations broadcast? What determines which DHCP server a workstation uses?

ferg-o

Your topology is flawed.

If you are using multiple DHCP servers then *each dhcp server* should be reponsible for their own ranges. Configure the servers with separate ranges - there is no clever way to get these servers to sommunicate regarding addresses.

If they are all on the same layer 2 broadcast network then you need to be a bit cleverer. Let me know.

AnimatorOne

ASKER

Thank you for your comment. My topology is hypothetical. Perhaps if I rephrase: when there are multiple DHCP servers on a LAN, what determines which one a workstation will receive its IP from?

ferg-o

The first answer. Unless you use mac addresses in the DHCP server/s. So for it to work you have to have primary and secondary (and tertiary if you need it) DHCP servers set up on each VLAN. Easiest way would be to put the DHCP servers in the same VLAN or physical LAN.

Depends how many vlans you have and how you want to set up bootp forwarding. It is your topology, which to me is a mystery.

AnimatorOne

ASKER

This question is hypothetical. You would not want more than 1 DHCP server on the same LAN.

But if there were, what factor determines which one a workstation got its IP from?

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ferg-o

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AnimatorOne

ASKER

That was my guess too. I just read on the MS website that there are benefits to having more than 1 DHCP server on a LAN. I'm going to read some more. Thanks for your input ferg-o.