Most schools use DHCP servers to assign IP addresses. Most schools also need to have a static address assigned to one or two computers. The most convenient way to do this is creating a “reservation” in the DHCP server for the machine that needs a static address. The reservation means that whenever a certain computer asks for an IP address, the DHCP server will always give it the same address. Very useful. Very convenient.

Strangely, when I started looking at Mac OS X Server (both Panther and Jaguar), there didn’t seem to be a way to set up DHCP reservations for machines. I read and re-read all of the documentation, searched on Google, and came up with nothing. I finally decided that DHCP reservations just were not possible with Mac OS X Server.

Yesterday, I re-read the documentation again and found my answer. Reservations ARE possible. The key, it appears, is the NetInfo Manager. The documentation for DHCP talked about the UNIX daemon that Apple uses to provide the service. The daemon is called bootpd and the manual suggested opening the terminal and reading the man page on bootpd. The man page was rich with information, and it gave good instructions on how to set up reservations. For detailed instructions, take a look at that man page!!

I took some time yesterday and tested the functionality of reservations, and they do work as advertised. I’m still not thrilled with how reservations work though. It is not the most convenient way to do it, but at least it is there!

–Pete