Freedom251 › DHCP Management Software
Open DHCP Server
What Open DHCP Server is
Open DHCP Server provides Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol service for assigning network addresses. It supports static hosts and dynamic DHCP ranges, with a capacity of up to 125 ranges, and one server can serve multiple zones. It also supports BOOTP and relay agents.
Administrators can assign DHCP options globally, to a range or to an individual client. Values can be entered as strings, IP addresses, hexadecimal strings or byte arrays, without defining option types. Ranges can be filtered by MAC ranges, vendor options and user options. For continuity, the server supports replicated fail-safe DHCP operation and DHCP failover. Lease status is shown on an HTML page that refreshes automatically.
The software is free and open source under the GNU General Public License; its repository includes a GPL-2.0 license. It is intended for Linux and self-hosted, on-premises deployment. The project describes it as suitable for experts as well as small and home setups, including users without DHCP protocol knowledge. It also describes the server as having low CPU and executable size and requiring very little memory.
Who it suits
Open DHCP Server suits administrators who need DHCP service with configurable ranges, options, reservations and failover. The project also positions it for small or home deployments, including users without DHCP protocol knowledge.
What it does well
- Free, open-source software under the GNU General Public License.
- Supports up to 125 DHCP ranges and multiple zones.
- Handles static hosts, dynamic ranges, BOOTP and relay agents.
- Options can apply globally, per range or per client.
- Includes replicated fail-safe operation and lease monitoring.
What to know first
- Deployment is listed for Linux and self-hosted use.
- The server supports a maximum of 125 DHCP ranges.
Limits
The free plan supports up to 125 DHCP ranges. The listed deployment is on-premises and self-hosted on Linux.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Open DHCP Server | up to 125 DHCP ranges · open source freeware | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 2 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the project repository at https://github.com/ss-plus/Open-DHCP-Server.
- Deploy it on-premises on Linux or in a self-hosted environment.
- Configure static hosts or dynamic DHCP ranges, up to 125.
- Set options globally, for ranges or for clients.
- Use the auto-refreshing HTML page to view lease status.
Verdict
Choose Open DHCP Server if you need a free, self-hosted DHCP service with range filtering, flexible option scope and fail-safe operation. It is a fit for Linux deployments, including small or home setups; look elsewhere if your target environment is not Linux or self-hosted.
Questions
Does Open DHCP Server cost anything?
The listed plan is free.
Is it open source?
Yes. It is released under the GNU General Public License, and its repository includes a GPL-2.0 license.
Which platforms and deployment types are listed?
The listed platforms are Linux and self-hosted. Deployment is on-premises.
How many DHCP ranges can it support?
It supports up to 125 DHCP ranges, along with static hosts and dynamic ranges.
Does it support DHCP failover?
Yes. It supports replicated fail-safe DHCP operation and DHCP failover.
What DHCP features does it provide?
It supports multiple zones, BOOTP, relay agents, range filtering, and options scoped globally, to a range or to a client.
Facts from Open DHCP Server's own pages
- Address assignment
- It supports both static hosts and dynamic DHCP ranges. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- DHCP options
- It supports DHCP options without requiring users to define option types, with values assignable as strings, IPs, hex strings, or byte arrays. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- DHCP ranges
- The server supports up to 125 DHCP ranges. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Filtering
- DHCP ranges can be filtered using MAC ranges, vendor options, and user options. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project says it is suited to experts as well as small and home use by people without DHCP protocol knowledge. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Lease monitoring
- Lease status is displayed on an auto-refreshing HTML page. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Option scope
- Options can be global, specific to a DHCP range, or specific to a client. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Protocol support
- It supports BOOTP and relay agents. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Open DHCP Server provides Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol service. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Resilience
- The server supports replicated fail-safe DHCP operation. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Resource use
- The project describes the server as having low CPU and executable size and requiring very little memory. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Security and standards
- The project says it attempts to comply with various RFCs for DHCP and is released under the GNU General Public License; the repository includes a GPL-2.0 license. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
- Zones
- A single server can support multiple zones. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Where Open DHCP Server stands on Freedom251
- DHCP Management Software#12 of 25