DHCP vs Static IP
Definition
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, RFC 2131) assigns IP addresses to devices from a server, whereas a static address is configured by hand on the device itself. RFC 2131 defines three allocation mechanisms: dynamic allocation (a time-limited lease taken from a pool), automatic allocation (a permanent address assigned by the server) and manual allocation, in which the administrator sets the address and DHCP only delivers it. Manual allocation, usually called a DHCP reservation, gives a fixed address that is also documented on the server. Static or reserved addresses suit equipment controlled by IP address, such as video switchers, lighting and media controllers and the external control of consoles. Dante stores subscriptions by device and channel name, not by IP address, so audio routing survives an address change, and Audinate ships Dante devices set to DHCP with a link-local fallback.
In the field
Equipment addressed by IP is usually given a static or reserved address, and the address plan is recorded in a shared table. A Dante subscription does not drop when a device takes a new DHCP lease, because subscriptions are based on names, but a documented address plan shortens the search for a device during troubleshooting.
Related lessons
Sources
- RFC 2131 §1, trois mécanismes d'attribution : dynamique, automatique, manuel · rfc-editor.org
- Audinate, Dante Controller User Guide, Routing Media : un abonnement associe un canal de réception à un canal d'émission d'un autre appareil, désignés par leurs noms · dev.audinate.com
- Audinate, Dante Controller User Guide, Troubleshooting Dante IP Address Configuration : DHCP par défaut, repli link-local · dev.audinate.com