How to enable DHCP server?

Question

Level 1

4 points

How to enable DHCP server?

Hi,

I want to use my Mac mini as the dhcp server and today I connected my satallite internet connection into a USB 2.0 to Ethernet adaptor into the Mac and shared that connection to the Ethernet port and plugged that into the wan port of AirPort Extreme and set AE to bridge mode. When I go to server app and enable dhcp it just stops again. Is it because I have internet sharing enabled? How do I configure the dhcp server in server app so that all my devices get an ip and can connect to the internet?

Thanks,

Matt

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Jan 7, 2014 4:46 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 7, 2014 7:03 PM in response to MrMatt68

Why not just use the Airport Extreme as your router? It has all of those features, including a DHCP service. Connect your Internet to the WAN port of the Airport, then connect your server to one of the switch ports. Set the Airport to NAT with DHCP mode and call it a day. Then you can simplify the server config.

R-

Apple Consultants Network

Apple Professional Services

Author "Mavericks Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

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Answer 2

MrMatt68 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 7, 2014 7:29 PM in response to Strontium90

Well that is the way it's been for years now but the problem I have is limited satallite internet and eventually I want to monitor/limit all traffic through the internet. Between all the devices in the house I cannot figure out where the data goes. It's not enough to monitor all traffic through the AE and report usage as I have no idea what apps or device is using it also there doesn't seem to be a log function like that in the AE so I thought some software would help and be best if all internet traffic was on one adaptor before it went out everywhere.

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Answer 3

MrMatt68 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 8, 2014 9:34 AM in response to MrMatt68

Well this is the second discussion i have started on this topic and so far have gotten nowhere. I guess this is just so far advanced that anyone that could help just wont unless it's for cash and or I am supposed to just use the airport extreme and be without internet 15 -20 days a month cause it just works.

Strotium90 thank you for your suggestion but as i already stated I have done that and while it works there doesn't seem to be a way to control it and all app programmers (including apple) seem to think that internet is free and unlimited all the time. I cannot even set a time to download updates in OSX...well i can click the button that says try again tonight but i don't know what time tonight is and with updates being as much as 1.5 gigs per machine and idevices needing app updates every few hrs it really *** that now one knows how to help in this situation except to unplug the internet all day except during the free zone which is 12am-5am.

I am done with my rant.

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Answer 4

Amozz

Level 1

8 points

Apr 22, 2014 8:00 PM in response to MrMatt68

I faced a simiar problem to yours. We have limited bandwidth for many users and so I wanted to allocate static IP addresses to allow control of users' bandwidth. The problem is that Apple Internet Sharing is doing two different functions:

1. Allocate IP addresses

2. Provide NAT to allow internet access

The DHCP service in the Server App does a much better job of allocating IP addresses, but Server no longer has a NAT service. If you turn on DHCP service to control IP address allocation, you lose internet sharing. If you turn on internet sharing, DHCP service turns off.

I ended up resolving the problem by using Icefloor, a free third party firewall app. Basically:

• Turn off Internet Sharing and the built in firewall in System Preferences.

• Start pf services in Icefloor (it has a simple way of turning on outbound NAT to share internet with users).

• Turn on DHCP service in Server App and use it to allocate fixed IP addresses.

I think Icefloor can also control speed to different users, but I use Squid proxy server which is more powerful.

Maybe you already solved your problem, but I'll put this here in case it is helpful for other users. A much better solution would be for Apple to include a NAT service in the Server App and I can't understand why they don't!

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