# Server-PT: central DHCP and lab DNS

Proposed server location: HQ-CORE Fa0/1, access VLAN 50. Server-PT configuration uses its GUI, not Cisco IOS CLI.

1. Open Server-PT → Desktop → IP Configuration → Static.
2. Set IP 10.10.0.82, mask 255.255.255.240, gateway 10.10.0.81 and DNS 10.10.0.82.
3. Open Services → DHCP, choose the connected FastEthernet interface if an interface selector is shown, and turn the service On.
4. Remove or disable the default `serverPool` if present so it cannot issue incorrect settings. Add the six pools below; use Add for each new pool and Save when editing an existing pool.

| Pool name | Default gateway | DNS server | Start IP | Mask | Maximum users | Last IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQ_ADMIN | 10.10.0.1 | 10.10.0.82 | 10.10.0.10 | 255.255.255.224 | 21 | 10.10.0.30 |
| HQ_FINANCE | 10.10.0.33 | 10.10.0.82 | 10.10.0.42 | 255.255.255.224 | 21 | 10.10.0.62 |
| HQ_IT | 10.10.0.65 | 10.10.0.82 | 10.10.0.70 | 255.255.255.240 | 9 | 10.10.0.78 |
| HQ_OPERATIONS | 10.10.0.129 | 10.10.0.82 | 10.10.0.138 | 255.255.255.192 | 53 | 10.10.0.190 |
| BR_ADMIN | 10.20.0.1 | 10.10.0.82 | 10.20.0.10 | 255.255.255.224 | 21 | 10.20.0.30 |
| BR_OPERATIONS | 10.20.0.33 | 10.10.0.82 | 10.20.0.42 | 255.255.255.224 | 21 | 10.20.0.62 |

All addresses below the start IP in each client subnet are reserved for static infrastructure. Server-PT uses start address and maximum-user count; do not paste IOS DHCP exclusion commands into its GUI. There are no router-hosted DHCP pools in these configurations. Server and management VLANs use static addressing.

5. Services → DNS → On. Add A record `dhcp.project03.lab` → 10.10.0.82. This is a lab-only name. An optional HTTP test uses Services → HTTP → On and A record `intranet.project03.lab` → 10.10.0.82. Disable other unnecessary server services where the simulator allows.
6. On each PC, Desktop → IP Configuration → DHCP. Verify the assigned address, mask, gateway and DNS with Desktop → Command Prompt → `ipconfig /all`.

HQ-CORE SVIs 10,20,30,40 and BR-R1 subinterfaces 10,40 relay requests to 10.10.0.82. No helper is necessary on the server VLAN itself. DHCP depends on bidirectional routing between each gateway and the server. Troubleshoot the WAN, OSPF and server default gateway before blaming a pool.