DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

In the context of computer networking, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a client-server networking protocol. A DHCP server provides configuration parameters specific to the DHCP client host requesting, generally, information required by the client host to participate on an IP network. DHCP also provides a mechanism for allocation of IP addresses to client hosts.

Full definition of DHCP at Wikipedia

When setting up a home network, you may want to allow the router to dynamically assign IP addresses to each computer. This ensures that every computer on your LAN is on the same network and can share files or Internet access.

You will setup each computer ID to match the SSID of the router, then configure each computer to Obtain and IP Address Automatically (this is generally set by default). Now each time the PC boots up, it will look for an IP address and the router will assign one to the device.

You can also release and renew an IP address from the command line. Type ipconfig /release and hit enter. This dumps the current IP. Then type ipconfig /renew. This gets a new IP address from the router. This works in Windows XP and 2000. winipcfg will be used in 9.x versions of Windows.

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