It doesn't, it sends a broadcast message over the entire network
What Destination IP Address Does A DHCP Client Use To Send The Initial DHCP Discover Packet When Looking For A DHCP Server?
Unless you are using a multi-homed environment with hard-coded dhcp configurations or bootp configurations that assign your workstation to a specific DHCP server in an enterprise, your DHCP client will broadcast the discovery request to all members of your subnet.
If your hardware addresses is explicitly defined in a DHCP server table, the server will respond and you will be assigned an IP. If no explicit definition exists, you should have a single DHCP server on a subnet. Mutliple DHCP servers on a single subnet can be disastrous.
With Windows, I believe that your DHCP information is cached at the workstation so that your workstation checks the previously connected DHCP Server Address first, then broadcasts.
Hope this info helps,jase
If your hardware addresses is explicitly defined in a DHCP server table, the server will respond and you will be assigned an IP. If no explicit definition exists, you should have a single DHCP server on a subnet. Mutliple DHCP servers on a single subnet can be disastrous.
With Windows, I believe that your DHCP information is cached at the workstation so that your workstation checks the previously connected DHCP Server Address first, then broadcasts.
Hope this info helps,jase
