Choosing a Data Store for DHCP Data

Configuring DHCP name services involves determining which data store resource the DHCP server will use to store its tables and to access host information. The dhcpconfig script sets the DHCP service in the /etc/default/dhcp file. The runtime daemon and administrative utilities will use this file to determine which name service to contact during processing.

How the Datastore Service is Selected

The dhcpconfig command first determines whether NIS+ or files is currently being used by the server system. If NIS+ is currently being used by the system, then nisplus is the default value in the Enter data store prompt. Otherwise, files is the default.

If you choose NIS+ and the server is not running NIS+, a warning message is displayed and you are told how to set up NIS+. The dhcpconfig script continues (although it is likely that errors will occur in the next section when creating DHCP tables).

NIS+ should be used if you have an environment with multiple servers, or an enterprise environment. With NIS+, data can be shared among servers. Files can be used if you have only a single server unless you arrange to share data using NFS.

Create Initial DHCP Tables

The dhcpconfig script creates the following empty DHCP tables in the datastore you selected as shown in Table 16-1.