DHCP stands for dynamic host configuration protocol and is a network protocol used on IP networks where a DHCP server automatically assigns an IP address and other information to the host on the network, so they can communicate efficiently with other endpoints.
What is the reason DHCP is necessary for gamers?
DHCP is not necessary for gamers. What is necessary for gamers is that they have a publicly routed IP address assignment and not one that is NAT (process of Network Address Translation) behind a firewall.
On our network, the default is to have the customer on the private network which is NAT behind our firewall. We have statically assigned IP addresses that a customer can buy for $10/mo. We also offer a publicly routed IP address that can be assigned via our Public DHCP server for $5/mo. Assignment of either a static IP address or a publicly routed IP addressed assigned by our Public DHCP server solves NAT connection issues that gamers experience when connecting to gaming servers when they are on the private network. However, with the limited amount of IP addresses available, it may not be the best solution to just put the customer on Public DHCP.
The customer’s network can be broken down into a couple combinations:
- GigaCenter with leased wireless router
- CC Communication is responsible for all equipment
- GigaCenter with Customer Owned Router
- CC Communications is responsible for the GigaCenter and the customer is responsible for the Router
- CC Communications Modem with leased Wireless Router
- CC Communications is responsible for both pieces of the equipment
- CC Communications Modem with customer Owned Router
- CC Communications is responsible for the Modem and the customer is responsible for the router
IMPORTANT:
IN ALL OF THESE COMBINATIONS, NAT issues are sometimes perceived by the customer to be CC Communications responsibility since we own some or all the equipment, however, the issue is at the console level, not with our equipment and the solution for the customer is to provide a static IP or publicly routed IP through Public DHCP.
In the following example, you can see how the checking of the NAT type is handled by the gaming console.
Understanding NAT:
https://support.thebehemoth.com/hc/en-us/articles/204767649-What-is-NAT-and-why-should-I-care-about-it-