DHCP monitoring with PRTG
Optimize the performance of your DHCP server
- Ensure your DHCP service is running and allocating IP addresses
- Optimize the response time of your DHCP servers
- Be notified when IP address pools are running low to avoid disruptions
Our users give top ratings for monitoring with Paessler PRTG
Prevent DHCP server downtime with PRTG
Since the DHCP server is responsible for assigning IP addresses on your network, a failure in this area could cause serious problems. When there is a DHCP issue, newly connected devices are assigned a default Class B IP address.
In this fallback configuration, they cannot communicate with other devices or be reached on the network. Similar problems can occur when the address space assigned to the DHCP server is exhausted.
PRTG helps you prevent problems
Paessler PRTG’s DHCP monitoring empowers you to always see whether your DHCP server service is running as it should.
If an issue arises, PRTG sends you threshold-based alerts via email, SMS, push notification, and other methods so you can intervene in a timely manner. This will enable you to fix the problem before it even becomes noticeable on the network.
PRTG makes DHCP server monitoring as easy as it gets
Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent IP address allocation errors and other DHCP issues.
What DHCP infrastructure monitoring looks like in PRTG
Diagnose network issues by continuously tracking the availability and performance of your DHCP server and service. Show server uptime, response time, IP pool utilization, lease expiration, bandwidth usage, and other key metrics in real time. Visualize monitoring data in clear graphs and dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the overview you need to troubleshoot wrong IP address allocation, DHCP scope shortages, and other network issues.
Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup
Preconfigured DHCP sensor in PRTG
Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure
3 ways PRTG helps keep your DHCP service at optimal performance
Ensure your DHCP service is running
PRTG helps you ensure your DHCP service is actually running. Since in most Active Directory environments, the domain controllers run the Windows DHCP service, you will always know the state of the service by applying a simple WMI Service sensor.
PRTG can also automatically try to restart the service if it ever stops, and inform you if the attempt was successful.
Know if your server is allocating addresses
You also need to know if your DHCP server is actually allocating addresses. PRTG comes with a dedicated DHCP sensor that sends a broadcast message out to the network requesting an IP address, and then waits for a DHCP server to respond.
The sensor then reports to you how long it takes for the server to respond, the IP address of the responding server, the allocated IP address, and its lease duration.
Track how many IP addresses are available
Using a PowerShell script with a custom EXE/Script Advanced sensor, PRTG will inform you how many IP addresses from the DHCP scope are available for the allocation to DHCP clients, and the overall DHCP scope status.
As such IP addresses have a configurable lease time or lifespan, PRTG also helps you properly balance the length of these leases with the size of the available scope, and the number of anticipated clients.
Start monitoring DHCP with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
“All-around winning “The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers” “PRTG Network MonitorIT experts agree: Paessler PRTG is a great solution for IT infrastructure monitoring
network monitor”
is very hard to beat”
Explore our preconfigured PRTG sensors for DHCP monitoring
PRTG comes with more than 250 native sensor types for monitoring your entire on-premises, cloud, and hybrid cloud environment out of the box. Check out some examples below!
DHCP
The DHCP sensor monitors a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. It sends a broadcast message to the network and waits for a DHCP server to respond. It can show the following:
- Lease time reported by the server
- Response time
WMI Service
The WMI Service sensor monitors a Windows service. It can show the following:
- CPU usage
- Number of handles and threads
- Pagefile usage
- Execution time of the monitoring request
- Working set
DNS v2
The DNS v2 sensor monitors a Domain Name System (DNS) server, resolves domain name records, and compares them to a filter. It can show the following:
- Number of matched records (if you use a filter)
- Number of records
- If records were resolved
- Response time
Your DHCP monitor at a glance – even on the go
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Find the root cause of the problem with our PRTG DHCP monitoring solution
Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.
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“Excellent tool for detailed monitoring. Alarms and notifications work greatly. Equipment addition is straight forward and server initial setup is very easy. ...feel safe to purchase it if you intend to monitor a large networking landscape.”
Infrastructure and Operations Engineer in the Communications Industry, firm size 10B - 30B USD
PRTG makes DHCP server monitoring as easy as it gets
Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent IP address allocation errors and other DHCP issues.
Monitoring DHCP: FAQ
What is DHCP?
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices on a network, so they can communicate efficiently with other devices and systems. It simplifies network administration by automating the process of configuring devices to connect to a network.
DHCP dynamically assigns IP addresses from a predefined range (a pool) to devices on the network. This eliminates the need for manual configuration of each device. In addition to IP addresses, DHCP can assign subnet masks, default gateways, DNS server addresses, and other configuration options (like NTP servers or lease duration).
IP addresses are assigned on a lease basis, meaning the address is temporary and can expire. The device must renew the lease to continue using the address.
What is DHCP monitoring?
DHCP monitoring refers to the process of overseeing and analyzing the performance, security, and functionality of a DHCP server and the associated network infrastructure. It ensures that the DHCP service is running smoothly, addresses are allocated properly, and potential issues like IP conflicts or exhaustion are identified and resolved promptly.
Why is DHCP monitoring important?
Monitoring DHCP servers and the DHCP service is important for several reasons:
- Availability: Ensures the DHCP server is operational so that clients can successfully obtain IP addresses and network configuration.
- IP address management: Tracks the usage of IP addresses in the DHCP pool to prevent shortages or over-allocation.
- Security: Detects unauthorized devices or rogue DHCP servers, which can lead to misconfiguration or malicious attacks (e.g., Man-in-the-Middle).
- Performance: Identifies delays or issues in lease assignment that can disrupt network connectivity.
- Error detection: Detects errors such as failure to assign an address, conflicts, or excessive requests, for example by analyzing syslog messages and log files.
- Traffic and request analysis: Monitors the number and types of DHCP requests (e.g., Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge) to detect unusual traffic patterns or attacks.
What is the difference between DHCP and DNS? What comes first?
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and DNS (Domain Name System) are two essential network protocols that serve different purposes but often work together to enable seamless network connectivity and communication.
DHCP assigns IP addresses and network configuration to devices dynamically. It simplifies network setup by automating IP address and configuration allocation. DNS translates domain names (e.g., google.com) into IP addresses. It enables devices to find and connect to websites or services using human-readable names.
DHCP comes first:
- When a device connects to a network, it uses DHCP to request an IP address and other necessary network settings, including the address of the DNS server.
- Without DHCP (or a static configuration), the device wouldn’t know its own IP or which DNS server to query.
DNS comes next:
- Once the device has an IP address (and knows the DNS server address from the DHCP configuration), it can use DNS to resolve domain names into IP addresses for further communication.
What is a sensor in PRTG?
In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, for example the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, or the free space on a disk drive.
On average, you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.
PRTG: The multi-tool for sysadmins
Adapt PRTG individually and dynamically to your needs and rely on a strong API:- HTTP API: Access monitoring data and manipulate monitoring objects via HTTP requests
- Custom sensors: Create your own PRTG sensors for customized monitoring
- Custom notifications: Create your own notifications and send action triggers to external systems
- REST Custom sensor: Monitor almost everything that provides data in XML or JSON format
Paessler conducted trials in over 600 IT departments worldwide to tune its network monitoring software closer to the needs of sysadmins. We asked: would you recommend PRTG?
Over 95% of our customers say yes!
The result of the survey: over 95% of the participants would recommend PRTG – or already have.
Paessler PRTG is used by companies of all sizes. Sysadmins love PRTG because it makes their job a whole lot easier. Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network. Everyone has different monitoring needs. That’s why we let you try PRTG for free.Still not convinced?
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Start monitoring DHCP with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
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PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 24.4.102.1351 (November 12th, 2024) |
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Hosting |
Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available |
Languages |
English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese |
Pricing |
Up to 100 sensors for free (Price List) |
Unified Monitoring |
Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more |
Supported Vendors & Applications |
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