I Want to Modify the Windows Server 2012 DHCP Server Default Lease Duration

The duration for which a DHCP server assigns the IP addresses to the client computers is called the lease duration. As per the default DHCP server configuration in Windows Server 2012, the duration for which the DHCP server assigns the dynamic IP addresses to the DHCP clients is 8 days.

Under normal circumstances, you are not required to modify the default lease duration of the DHCP server if your organization does not have huge number of DHCP client computers, and most of the client computers are stationary and are not moved from their locations very frequently.

On the other hand, modifying the default lease duration becomes necessary when most DHCP client computers are the laptop PCs and/or used for a short duration each day. If such computers are assigned with the dynamic IP addresses from the DHCP server, and the lease duration is still 8 days, the IP addresses assigned to such computers would remain blocked even if the computers are not in use. This might prevent other computers from getting the IP address from the DHCP server if the IP address pool has limited number of IP addresses available in it.

Here’s how you can change the default DHCP server lease duration:

■Log on to the DHCP server using the default Administrator account.

■If not automatically started, initialize the Server Manager window by clicking its corresponding icon present at the bottom left corner of the computer screen in the taskbar.

■On the opened Server Manager window, from the left pane, click to select the DHCP
category.

■From the right pane, right-click the DHCP server from the SERVERS list.

■From the displayed context menu, go to the DHCP Manager option.





■On the opened DHCP Manager snap-in, from the left pane, expand the server name, and then expand the IPv4 category.

■From the expanded tree, click to select the DHCP scope for which you want to modify the default lease duration. (Subnet01Scope for this demonstration.).

■Once selected, right-click the selected scope, and from the context menu, go to Properties.





■On the opened properties box, make sure that the General tab is selected.

■On the displayed interface, under the Lease duration for DHCP clients section, make sure that the Limit to radio button is selected.

■Modify the default lease duration by changing the values of the Days, Hours, and
Minutes fields.

■Once done, click OK to save the settings and to close the properties box.





■Back on the DHCP Manager snap-in, right-click the name of the server from the left pane.

■From the displayed context menu, go to All Tasks, and from the displayed submenu, click Restart.





■Wait till the DHCP service restarts, and once it does, the DHCP server will be ready to assign the IP addresses as per the newly configured DHCP lease duration.