The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is responsible for automatically assigning IP addresses to devices on a network. When a device connects to the network, it sends a broadcast request for an IP address, and a DHCP server responds with an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server information.
This process simplifies network administration by automating IP address assignment and ensuring that devices have unique IP addresses without manual configuration.
References:
* Cisco DHCP Overview
* RFC 2131: DHCP