static vs DHCP Ip address

[pbartoli]

The Macs on my ethernet network are by default set up with dynamic DHCP IP addresses.

 

Why after all shouldn't I switch to static IP address? Does this configuration has some disavantage versus DHCP??

[Maser]

Having run a network...

 

The only real disadvantage to *static* DHCP is if you don't manage the network properly.

 

Imagine you have a subnet with 256 IP addresses (well, less, but...)

 

If you configure static DHCP addresses -- but never recover the addresses when computers drop off the network (think of a situation like a University where grad students come in for a couple of years and then graduate) -- then you'll eventually end up with no more static addresses to assign.

 

 

Apart from that (and I knew other admins who were awful at managing their static IP assignments) -- I see no reason why you wouldn't assign static IPs all the time for your "regular" clients.

 

Dynamic DHCP works best in a fluid environment where people come and go for short terms.