The DHCP server assigns a client an IP address

The DHCP server assigns a client an IP address taken from a predefined scope for a given amount of time. If an IP address is required for longer than the lease has been set for, the client must request an extension before the lease expires. If the client has not requested an extension on the lease time, the IP address will be considered free and can be assigned to another client. If the user wishes to change IP address then they can do so by typing "ipconfig /release", followed by "ipconfig /renew" in the command prompt. This will remove the current IP address and request a new one. Reservations can be defined on the DHCP server to allow certain clients to have their own IP address (this will be discussed a little later on). Addresses can be reserved for a MAC address or a host name so these clients will have a fixed IP address that is configured automatically. Most Internet Service Providers use DHCP to assign new IP addresses to client computers when a customer connects to the internet - this simplifies things at user level.

To export the DHCP server settings from a Windows NT 4.0–based server or Windows 2000–based server
Run DHCPExim.exe. This opens the DhcpExim dialog box.

To download and install DHCPExim.exe, see the Resource Kit Tools link on the Web Resources page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources.

In the DhcpExim dialog box, select Export configuration of the local service to a file.

In the DHCPEXIM Export To File dialog box, enter a file name and location to save the file, and then click OK.

The target location the file is shown in the DhcpExim Export dialog box.

In the DhcpExim Export dialog box, select all of the scopes on the list to migrate all settings on the server. Alternatively, you can only the specific scopes you want to export if you are not migrating the entire server. Select the Disable the selected scopes on local machine before export check box to disable the scopes on this server before exporting, and then click Export.

Tip

This step might take several minutes to complete, and there is no dialog box to indicate the progress of the export. You can view the process running on the Processes tab of the Windows Task Manager.

Click OK when a message appears that says "The operation was completed successfully."

Copy the exported file to a location where you can access it from the new Windows Server 2003–based server.