The Gui Dhcp Server Configuration Tool

Ubuntu now has a GUI configuration tool available, courtesy of the gdhcpd package. As it's built with GTK+ libraries, it does not require many additional packages on the Xfce (or even the GNOME) desktop environments. I prefer to customize most services directly through their text configuration files. However, one value I find for GUI tools is how it helps newer administrators learn more about subject services.

Before running the tool, back up the current version of the configuration file. For example, the following command backs up that file in the current user's home directory:

Now open the GDHCPD configuration tool with the following command that opens the interface shown in Figure 14-2.

$ sudo gdhcpd

The scope shown in Figure 14-2 is slightly different from what was configured in the preceding section. Note the additional information that can be configured in the Client Settings area. When I click the Reread button, the following stanza is added to the /etc/ dhcp3/dhcpd.conf configuration file:

subnet 192.168.0.0 netmask 2 55.255.255.0 { interface eth0;

range 192.168.0.100 192.168.0.110; default-lease-time 1200; max-lease-time 6400; option domain-name "example.org"; option subnet-mask 2 55.255.255.0; option broadcast-address 192.168.0.255; option routers 192.168.0.1; option domain-name-servers 192.168.0.1;

As you can see from the graphical DHCP configuration tool, other options are available. The Single Hosts tab allows you to configure characteristics such as a fixed IP address. The Leases tab reviews the status of leased IP addresses in the aforementioned leases file, /var/lib/dhcp3/dhcpd.leases. The Verify tab allows you to run the shell commands.

Figure 14-2. The Graphical DHCP configuration tool

Continue reading here: Install DNS Packages

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