First subnet

Prefix, subnet, exclude the gateway, add a pool, prove an Ack. A Microsoft scope is several Lattice objects.

Microsoft DHCP has a scope: one CIDR, a range, exclusions, reservations, options. Lattice splits that into objects so the drawing (IPAM) and the server (DHCP) cannot disagree.

This page is the first hour in the console. Relays: relays. Reservations vs excludes: reservations, excludes. Helpdesk: helpdesk. Lease time (1-day default): DHCP lease time.

Just show me the steps — click path and prove-lease at the bottom.


1. Prefix vs subnet vs pool

LatticeRough Microsoft / ISC equivalentWhat it is
PrefixSuperscope / “we own this block”The plan. A /16 on the drawing. Not a DHCP listener.
SubnetThe scope’s network + mask + routerOne L3 network (10.20.20.0/24). Mode DHCP or Tracking only.
PoolThe dynamic rangeAddresses dhcpd may Offer. No pool → no Offer.
Don’t offer / excludeExclusion rangeGateway, VIP, holes. dhcpd will not hand these out.
DHCP clientReservationThis MAC always gets this IP.
Static serverA note in a spreadsheetIP + hostname, no DHCP. Counts on the license.

A Microsoft “scope 10.20.20.0 mask 255.255.255.0 range .100–.200” becomes:

  1. Prefix 10.20.0.0/16 (or 10.20.20.0/24 if you have no parent plan)
  2. Subnet 10.20.20.0/24, gateway 10.20.20.1
  3. Don’t offer .1 (and .254 if that is a VIP)
  4. Pool .100–.200

The subnet CIDR must contain the relay’s giaddr (usually the gateway). The pool is only the dynamic slice. Do not invent a subnet that is only .100–.200 — giaddr .1 will not match.


2. Click path (DHCP VLAN)

  1. Addresses → add a prefix (the block on the drawing).
  2. Add a subnet inside it. Mode DHCP. Set gateway / VLAN / site if you have them. Lease time defaults to 1 day — leave it for campus; guest VLANs are hours, not 30 minutes (DHCP lease time).
  3. Open the subnet (click the CIDR). Add address → Don’t offer the gateway. Single IP: leave end blank.
  4. DHCP tab → add a pool. DHCP will not Offer until this exists.
  5. Option 6 = DNS servers the laptop should query (usually your DCs), same as Microsoft scope option 006. Lattice does not fill this when you enable DDNS. dns-how.
  6. More → Settings → Trusted relays: add the L3 switch / firewall IPs that will ip helper-address here. Empty drops relayed DHCP. relays.
  7. Point one helper at this VM (or the HA VIP). Do not dual-helper Windows DHCP and Lattice on the same VLAN.

Tracking only (server VLAN)

Mode Tracking only. No pool. dhcpd ignores the subnet. Add address → Static server (hostname). Each assignment counts on the license cap.


3. Prove a lease

A pool on the map is not a lease. You need a DHCP packet.

Best: a relay, then a real client (or ipconfig /renew on a test VLAN).

On the Ubuntu VM (SSH), if you have no relay yet:

lattice-dhcptest -server 127.0.0.1:67 -giaddr 10.20.20.1

-giaddr must be an address inside the subnet CIDR (the gateway you typed is the usual choice). Overview should show a live lease, not only Expired.

A Windows laptop on the same VLAN as Community dhcpd sending a broadcast Discover often never arrives (Docker). That does not mean the install failed. relays.


4. What success looks like

  • Overview live count moved
  • Leases shows the MAC
  • Work is empty (or you understand why it is not)
  • Option 6 on a client (ipconfig /all) is the DCs you intended, not a surprise

Who held an address last Tuesday is More → History. The whole VLAN last Tuesday is As of on this subnet’s address map. History.

Names in DNS are a later adapter. Ack never waits. integrations.

Just the steps

  1. Addresses → prefix (the block) → subnet inside it, mode DHCP, gateway set. Lease time defaults to 1 day.
  2. Add address → Don’t offer the gateway (leave end blank for one IP).
  3. DHCP tab → pool. Option 6 = the DCs (or whatever laptops already query).
  4. More → Settings → Trusted relays → the helper IPs. Empty drops relayed DHCP.
  5. One ip helper-address at this VM (or the VIP). Not Windows DHCP and Lattice.
lattice-dhcptest -server 127.0.0.1:67 -giaddr 10.20.20.1

-giaddr must sit inside the subnet CIDR. Overview should show a live lease. Same-VLAN broadcast to Community Docker dhcpd often never arrives — use a relay.