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The first step is to install the DHCP server package. You can achieve this by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo yum install dhcp -y

This command installs the DHCP package using YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified), which is the standard package manager for CentOS.

Configuring DHCP Server

After installation, it is necessary to configure the DHCP server by editing the main configuration file, which is located at /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf. You can use any text editor to modify this file, such as nano or vi.

1. Open the configuration file using the command:

   sudo nano /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf
   ​

2. You then need to edit the file to reflect your network configuration. Here is an example of a basic configuration that defines the range of IP addresses that the DHCP server can allocate:

   default-lease-time 600;
   max-lease-time 7200;
   option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;
   option broadcast-address 192.168.1.255;
   option routers 192.168.1.1;
   option domain-name-servers 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4;
   subnet 192.168.1.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
     range 192.168.1.10 192.168.1.100;
   }
   ​

This configuration file sets:

• default-lease-time and max-lease-time to define how long an IP address can be assigned to a client.
• option subnet-mask, option broadcast-address, option routers, and option domain-name-servers to define basic network settings.
• subnet and range to specify in which subnet and range of IP addresses the DHCP server can allocate addresses.

3. After making the changes, save and close the editor.

Starting and Enabling the DHCP Server

To ensure that the DHCP server is automatically started when the system boots up, you need to enable and start it using the systemctl service manager.

1. Start the DHCP server using the command:

   sudo systemctl start dhcpd
   ​

2. Enable the DHCP server to start automatically on system boot using:

   sudo systemctl enable dhcpd
   ​

Verifying DHCP Server Functionality

After configuration, it's a good practice to verify whether the DHCP server is functioning correctly. This can be done using one of the clients on your network, such as restarting the network interface and verifying that an IP address from the defined range has been assigned.

Installing and configuring a DHCP server on CentOS 7 requires careful planning and knowledge of your local network. Precise configuration of the DHCP server ensures efficient management of IP addresses and other network settings for your network clients, leading to simplified network management and improved performance.