How to Load Balance DHCP Server in Windows Server 2012 R2

How to Load Balance DHCP Server in Windows Server 2012 R2

In this post, we’ll learn the steps to Load Balance DHCP Server in Windows Server 2012 R2. In the previous posts, we have learned the steps to install and configure DHCP Server in Windows Server 2012 R2. Load balance is a new feature introduced in Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server Windows. It enables two DHCP servers to share their scopes, lease and reservation information to each other. Configuring DHCP failover provides high availability of DHCP services to the clients in a network.

Steps to Load Balance DHCP server in Windows Server 2012 R2

Two DHCP Windows Server are required to configure DHCP Failover. We have two DHCP Server windows DC01 and DC02. DC01 has DHCP Scope configured, on DC02 we don’t have DHCP Scope configured.

1. On “DC01.itingredients.com“, DHCP scope is configured ranging from an IP addresses 192.168.1.40 to 192.168.1.50.

2. To load balance DHCP Server, we have to install the role of DHCP on another server i.e. “DC02.itingredients.com“. Open Server Manager and then click on “Add roles and features” to install the role of DHCP.

3. On Before you begin console, we can read about all the pre-requisite tasks to be performed before proceeding further. Click on Next to continue.

Also read: Configure Reservation

4. On Select installation type console, select “Role-based or feature-based installation” and click on Next to continue.

5. On Select destination server console, select the option of “Select a server from the server pool” and select the server from the list of available servers to install the role. Here, we are selecting “DC02.itingredients.com“. Click on Next to continue. 6. On Select server roles console, select the role of “DHCP Server“. Click on Next to continue. 7. On Select features console, we don’t have to select any feature. Simply, click on Next to continue. 8. On the console, read about the importance and advantages of DHCP. Read the important points mentioned under Things to note. Click on Next to continue.

Also Read: How to promote a Domain Controller

9. On Confirm installation selections console, verify all the options selected on previous consoles. Click on Install to start the installation process.

10. On Installation progress console, we can see the installation in progress. After the successful installation click on Close to close the console.

Also Read: How to assign static IP Address from Command Prompt

11. Open DHCP on “DC02.itingredients.com“. Here, we can see that the no scope is defined. We don’t have to create a new scope because we will balance the load of existing scope created on DC01.itingredients.com. 12. To configure Load balance DHCP Server, on DC01.itingredients.com open DHCP, under IPv4 right click on your scope and then click on “Configure Failover“. 13. On Introduction to DHCP Failover console, we can read the importance of DHCP Failover. DHCP Failover enables us to synchronize the information of IP address lease with the another DHCP server. It also helps in load balancing two DHCP servers. From the list of Available Scopes, select the scope for creating failover or load-balancing. Or select the option of “Select all” to enable the setting on all scopes of your DHCP server, else you can select the specific Scope. Click on Next to continue. 14. On Specify the partner server to use for failover console, enter either the hostname or IP address of the partner DHCP  server with which failover should be configured. Click on Add Server to select the partner DHCP server. In this practical, the name of our partner is “DC02“. Click on Next to continue.  15. Create a new failover relationship console, enter the relationship name, set Maximum Client Lead Time. Select the Mode to “Load Balance” from the drop-down menu. Set the load balance percentage for the Local and Partner server. It would help in determining the distribution of load. You can define the percentage as per your requirement. You can even define the State Switchover interval and secret key, however, we are not defining the same for this practical. Click on Next to continue. 16. On this console, verify all the options selected on previous consoles. Click on Finish to create a relationship between both the DHCP servers with the selected settings. 17. On Progress of failover configuration console, we can see the progress of configuration. After the successful configuration of failover click on Close to close the console. 18. Again on DHCP console, Under IPv4 right click on Scope and then click on Display Statistics to see the statistics of load balanced scope. 19. On Scope 192.168.1.0 Statistics console, we can Total IP addresses of the scope, available IP addresses of local and partner server, used IP addresses of both local and partner server. Click on Close to close this console. 20. Now open DHCP on partner server i.e. DC02.itingredients.com. Here, we can see that the scope is replicated from the first DHCP server (DC01) with all the information like address leases, reservations, etc. 21. Now login to any client computer and open command prompt. Run command “ipconfig /all” to check the name of DHCP Server from which this client computer is receiving an IP address. Here, we can see that this client computer is getting IP address from 192.168.1.21 i.e. Dc02.itingredients.com. 22. Now, we will shutdown DC02.itingredients.com assuming that it is unavailable or crashed. Now again, open the command prompt and run the command to release and renew the IP address and then type “ipconfig /all“. Now, we can see that this computer is getting IP address from 192.168.1.10 i.e. DC01.itingredients.com. 

Hope you have understood the steps to load balance DHCP Servers Window. Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions in the comment section below.