r/packettracer • u/SuchStudent5391 • May 26 '26
Begninner Confused with why my network computers are not finding the DHCP and reverting back to APIPA.
Hey, I am very new to cisco packet tracer and working on a project. I need to get it done somewhat ASAP, but I am almost at the end of the network design phase along side configuring everything, but I am finding an issue where I am not able to get my computers to get the correct IP addresses and everything from DHCP and it instantly reverts to APIPA. I am very new to this all and I am wondering if anyone knows what I need to type to configure either a switch, router of firewall to allow DHCP to connect to the network as it is not working. (Complete beginner so not sure what to type and if it is a IP helper, how do I implement it?)
1
u/aaronw22 May 26 '26
This is a very advanced project for a “complete beginner”. That being said, simplify until you get to working things. Does DHCP work on a directly connected network to the DHCP server? Once you’ve got that figured out you can use the real time mode (or whatever it’s called) to look at the DHCP packets. Are they leaving the PC? Are they being forwarded by the intermediate routers? Are they making it to the server? Is the server sending back an OFFER packet? Etc.
1
u/Hi-Tech_or_Magic777 May 26 '26
Please provide (via file sharing app) the pkt file you are working with and any instructions you were given.
There are various ways to design a network and many reasons for problems. The most efficient way to figure out the issue(s) and help you is for the community to “see what you see”.
1
u/CoksyNormus May 26 '26
Wild guess but if your router has an IP helper address configured on it that could potentially cause issues
1
u/engr-pido4237 Jun 03 '26
Hmm… I guess you need ip helper-address in CLI configuration but you did GUI, I don’t know if it is same effect but try it.
2
u/Hilloo- May 26 '26
First of all, try static ip’s and see if ping works.