The Branch Gateway supports DHCP server. DHCP server is a protocol for automatically assigning IP addresses and other configuration parameters to clients on a TCP/IP network. DHCP server minimizes the maintenance of a network of, among other things, IP telephones and PCs, by removing the need to assign and maintain IP addresses and other parameters for each device on the network individually.

Since a DHCP server can be configured on the Branch Gateway, local branch devices are not dependant on receiving configuration parameters over the WAN from a remote DHCP server and, therefore, can be assigned IP configuration parameters for WAN failure.

The Branch Gateway supports the following DHCP server features:

• Up to 32 DHCP pools

• Up to 1023 IP addresses for all DHCP pools together

• Automatic and reservation pools

• Standard DHCP options and IP phone and wireless special options

• Vendor specific information option

• DHCP relay packets

• Global statistics

• Syslog/traps for special events

The Branch Gateway can function as a DHCP server, as a DHCP relay, or both simultaneously, with each interface configured in either DHCP server mode or DHCP relay mode. For example, you can configure the Branch Gateway to provide DHCP service to voice devices while DHCP requests by data devices are routed to a central remote DHCP server using DHCP relay.

The Branch Gateway can function as a DHCP server or as a DHCP client, or both simultaneously. For information about configuring DHCP client on the Branch Gateway, see DHCP client configuration.