DHCP and static IP in a gaming club
DHCP and static IP in a gaming club
Section titled “DHCP and static IP in a gaming club”DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is the protocol that automatically hands out IP addresses, subnet masks, gateways, and DNS settings to every device on a network. Most routers run a DHCP server by default — phones, laptops, and new PCs get addresses without any manual configuration. In a home or office that works perfectly. In a gaming club it does not: gaming PCs managed by IZI must receive the same IP address on every boot — otherwise IZI CRM loses the connection to the machine after a reboot or a disk reset via IZI Boot (the technology that restores a PC disk from a golden image). A predictable address is also what makes Wake-on-LAN reliable — the remote power-on command is sent to a specific host, and that host must always be at the same address. For the full network requirements checklist, see Club network: how to set up for IZI.
Why IZI requires fixed addresses
Section titled “Why IZI requires fixed addresses”The IZI client installed on each PC registers with the CRM using two identifiers: the device UUID (a unique code generated when the device was created) and its network address. After a disk reset via IZI Boot (the server-side product that restores the disk from a golden image) the IZI client starts up and attempts to reconnect to the server. If DHCP has issued a different IP in the meantime, the connection is delayed or never established — the CRM shows the machine as offline.
Additionally, Wake-on-LAN in IZI sends the power-on command through the MeshCentral agent, which finds the device by name on the local network. Without a stable address that lookup is unreliable.
Rule of thumb: gaming PCs in the hall — static. Guest Wi-Fi — ordinary dynamic DHCP (no changes needed there).
Two ways to assign a static address
Section titled “Two ways to assign a static address”Option 1 — DHCP reservation by MAC address (recommended)
Section titled “Option 1 — DHCP reservation by MAC address (recommended)”Configured once in the router or DHCP server interface. Look for a section called “DHCP Reservation”, “Static DHCP”, “Address Reservation”, or “Bind IP to MAC” — the label depends on the router firmware.
How it works:
- Find the MAC address of each gaming PC (printed on the network card, or run
ipconfig /allin Windows Command Prompt). - In the router interface add an entry: MAC address → desired IP.
- Save and reboot the PC — it will receive the reserved address via ordinary DHCP.
Advantages over manually setting a static IP inside Windows:
- All address assignments live in one place — the router.
- After a Windows reinstall or an IZI Boot disk reset, the address is restored automatically with no manual steps.
- No need to touch each PC individually.
Option 2 — Static IP in Windows network settings
Section titled “Option 2 — Static IP in Windows network settings”Set the IP, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS manually on each PC.
Path: Settings → Network & Internet → Change adapter options → Ethernet → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 → Use the following IP address.
Reliable, but if you replace the router or move the club you must repeat the process for every machine. Use this option only when the router does not support DHCP reservation.
How to plan the address space
Section titled “How to plan the address space”It helps to reserve a dedicated range for hall PCs so they do not overlap with network equipment and servers:
| Segment | Example range |
|---|---|
| Router, switches, NAS | 192.168.1.1 – 192.168.1.50 |
| Gaming PCs | 192.168.1.100 – 192.168.1.200 |
| Guest Wi-Fi (dynamic DHCP) | 192.168.2.0/24 (separate VLAN) |
Put guest devices on a separate VLAN (a logically isolated network segment) so guest traffic does not compete with gaming traffic.
Frequently asked questions
Section titled “Frequently asked questions”Related
Section titled “Related”- Club network: how to set up for IZI — full checklist of network requirements: bandwidth, isolation, NAS.
- Wake-on-LAN — remote power-on from the CRM; requires a stable IP address.
- Device UUID — how IZI identifies each PC in the CRM.
- VLAN — how to isolate guest Wi-Fi from the hall network.
- IZI Boot — restoring a PC disk from a golden image over the network.
Frequently asked questions
What is DHCP and how does it work?
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses, subnet masks, gateways, and DNS server addresses to devices on a network. A router or dedicated DHCP server maintains a pool of available addresses and hands them out when devices connect. Each address is leased for a limited time — when the lease expires, the device may receive a different address.
What is the difference between a static and a dynamic IP?
A dynamic IP is assigned by the DHCP server and can change on every reboot or when the lease expires. A static IP is fixed: the device always gets the same address. In a club this matters for gaming PCs managed by IZI — if the address changes, the IZI client (the per-PC agent) may not reconnect correctly after a reboot or a disk reset via IZI Boot (the server-side product that restores the disk from a golden image).
What is a DHCP reservation (static DHCP by MAC address)?
A DHCP reservation — also called static DHCP or IP/MAC binding — is a router setting that tells the DHCP server to always hand the same IP address to a specific device based on its MAC address. From the PC's point of view it looks like ordinary DHCP, but the address never changes. It is more convenient than setting a manual static IP inside Windows because all assignments live in one place: the router.
Do all PCs in the club need a static IP?
Gaming PCs managed by IZI — yes. IZI CRM ties each device to its UUID and network address. If the IP changes, the IZI client (per-PC agent) may fail to reconnect after a reboot. Guest devices — phones and laptops on Wi-Fi — do not need static addresses; ordinary dynamic DHCP works fine for them.