FluxDHCP

Overview

FluxDHCP is a self-hosted DHCPv4 server with a browser-based management interface, suited to administrators who want to run address assignment on infrastructure they control. Its pool, reservation and monitoring tools make it a focused option for IPv4 networks; networks requiring DHCPv6 should look elsewhere.

Key features

Pool configuration covers subnet ranges, gateways, DNS servers, netmasks and lease durations, with sequential or random allocation. Overlap detection can help catch conflicting pool definitions before they cause address-assignment problems. Static MAC-to-IP reservations and per-device option overrides suit networks that need particular clients to retain an address or receive different DHCP settings.

Lease tracking distinguishes OFFERED, BOUND, RELEASED and EXPIRED states and automatically clears expired leases. The packet logger captures transactions with millisecond timestamps, direction, packet details, raw options and client information, giving administrators useful context when tracing DHCP activity. Webhooks can forward DHCP events to external services over HTTP POST or GET, with template variables and custom headers to shape those notifications.

FluxDHCP supports DHCPv4 message types including DISCOVER, OFFER, REQUEST, ACK, NAK, RELEASE, DECLINE and INFORM, and describes itself as RFC 2131 compliant. It does not support DHCPv6, which rules it out for environments that need both protocol versions. Configuration can be exported to and imported from JSON, with imported changes hot-reloaded. The project also lists Origin-header validation for API mutations, SSRF-protected webhook URLs and IP-format validation.

The interface offers English and Chinese localization, dark mode and a responsive mobile-friendly layout. Deployment is self-hosted: the recommended approach is Docker Compose, with manual installation also documented using Node.js and npm. The stack uses Node.js 20 or later and SQLite via better-sqlite3. Binding UDP port 67 requires root or administrator privileges, an operational constraint to account for when choosing how to run it.

Pricing

FluxDHCP is free: its AGPL-3.0-licensed self-hosted plan costs nothing. The project says use, modification and distribution are free subject to the license terms. There are no paid tiers described, so this is a straightforward fit for users comfortable deploying and maintaining their own server rather than paying for a hosted service.

Platforms

FluxDHCP is listed for Linux, self-hosted use and the web. The web interface is the management surface, while the server runs on Node.js 20 or later. Its documented Docker Compose and manual Node.js/npm deployment paths both require attention to the elevated privilege needed to bind UDP port 67.

Who it's for

FluxDHCP is best for administrators who need a focused, self-hosted DHCPv4 service with address pools, reservations, lease visibility and event notifications. It is less suitable for networks requiring DHCPv6, or for operators who cannot accommodate a Node.js 20+ runtime and privileged port binding.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Useful pool controls: allocation strategies, overlap detection and per-pool lease settings help administrators manage IPv4 address assignment.
• Operational visibility: lease states and packet records with millisecond timestamps provide detail for following DHCP activity.
• Flexible event handling: webhooks support both POST and GET, custom headers and template variables.
• Free, self-hosted licensing: the AGPL-3.0 release permits use, modification and distribution subject to its terms.

Cons

• IPv4 only: the lack of DHCPv6 makes it unsuitable where IPv6 address assignment is required.
• Privileged networking: binding UDP port 67 requires root or administrator privileges.
• Runtime prerequisite: deployment requires Node.js 20 or later.

Alternatives

For a broader DHCP software comparison, see DHCP Management Software.

• Subnetly is worth considering when an IPAM service with a published free monthly tier better fits: its Free plan costs nothing, with limits including 256 IPAM addresses, 10 subnets and 2 DHCP pools.
• ISC Stork is another free, self-hosted option for Linux, macOS and web environments; professional support is also offered at custom pricing.
• SagaOS Kea Pilot is a free, MIT-licensed alternative for Linux and self-hosted use.
• teemIP may suit teams looking for an open-source community plan, offered free forever at 0.00 EUR.
• DacatDHCP is a free Windows option for IPv4 DHCP service.
• Danbyte is a free, self-hosted alternative whose plan includes all features and has no seat license or license expiry.
• Jen Kea DHCP Management Console is a free self-hosted choice for users running ISC Kea with MySQL or MariaDB on Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or Docker.
• OpenIPAM offers a free open-source option with browser-only or self-hosted-backend deployment.

Verdict

Choose FluxDHCP if you want a free, self-hosted DHCPv4 server with reservations, useful pool controls and detailed event visibility. Its focused IPv4 scope is the central trade-off: look elsewhere if DHCPv6 is required, or if running Node.js and binding a privileged port do not suit your deployment.