Switch Routing Interfaces DHCP Configuration

Dashboard Location: Switching > Configure > Routing and DHCP

DHCP Service Management for Layer 3 Interfaces

Switch routing interfaces DHCP configuration in Meraki networks provides administrators with the capability to implement comprehensive DHCP services directly on Layer 3 switch interfaces, enabling distributed IP address management, network boot services, and advanced DHCP options. This functionality supports automated IP allocation, DNS configuration, DHCP relay services, PXE boot environments, custom DHCP options, and centralized address reservation management. Switch interface DHCP services are essential for distributed network architectures, reducing DHCP server dependencies, providing network redundancy, and supporting specialized network services like VoIP and network boot scenarios.

Diagram

Classes

switch_routing_interfaces (meraki.domains.organizations.networks.devices)

Name	Type	Constraint	Mandatory	Default Value
dhcp	Class	`[dhcp]`	No

dhcp (meraki.domains.organizations.networks.devices.switch_routing_interfaces)

Name	Type	Constraint	Mandatory
dhcp_mode	Choice	`dhcpDisabled`, `dhcpRelay`, `dhcpServer`	No
dhcp_relay_server_ips	List	IP	No
dhcp_lease_time	Choice	`1 day`, `1 hour`, `1 week`, `12 hours`, `30 minutes`, `4 hours`	No
dns_nameservers_option	Choice	`custom`, `googlePublicDns`, `openDns`	No
dns_custom_nameservers	List	IP	No
boot_next_server	IP		No
boot_file_name	String	min: `1`, max: `127`	No
dhcp_options	List	`[dhcp_options]`	No
reserved_ip_ranges	List	`[reserved_ip_ranges]`	No
fixed_ip_assignments	List	`[fixed_ip_assignments]`	No
boot_options	Boolean	`true`, `false`	No

dhcp_options (meraki.domains.organizations.networks.devices.switch_routing_interfaces.dhcp)

Name	Type	Constraint	Mandatory
code	String	Regex: `^([2-9]\|1[0-9][0-9]?\|2[0-9]\|2[0-5][0-4]\|[3-9][0-9])$`	Yes
type	Choice	`hex`, `integer`, `ip`, `text`	Yes
value	String	min: `1`, max: `127`	Yes

reserved_ip_ranges (meraki.domains.organizations.networks.devices.switch_routing_interfaces.dhcp)

Name	Type	Constraint	Mandatory
start	IP		Yes
end	IP		Yes
comment	String	min: `1`, max: `127`	No

fixed_ip_assignments (meraki.domains.organizations.networks.devices.switch_routing_interfaces.dhcp)

Name	Type	Constraint	Mandatory
name	String	min: `1`, max: `127`	Yes
mac	MAC		Yes
ip	IP		Yes

Examples

Example-1: The example below demonstrates switch routing interface DHCP configuration using tested YAML configuration from pipeline fixtures.

meraki:
  domains:
    - name: "!env domain"
      administrator:
        name: "!env org_admin"
      organizations:
        - name: "!env org"
          networks:
            - name: "!env network_name"
              product_types:
                - appliance
                - switch
                - wireless
                - camera
                - sensor
                - cellularGateway
              devices:
                - name: "!env dmz_switch_02"
                  switch_routing_interfaces:
                    - name: VLAN 10
                      dhcp:
                        dhcp_mode: "dhcpServer"
                        dhcp_lease_time: "1 day"
                        dns_nameservers_option: "custom"
                        dns_custom_nameservers:
                          - 8.8.8.8
                        boot_options: true
                        boot_next_server: "1.1.1.65"
                        boot_file_name: "test"
                        dhcp_options:
                          - code: "150"
                            type: "ip"
                            value: "1.1.1.60"
                        reserved_ip_ranges:
                          - start: "1.1.1.200"
                            end: "1.1.1.205"
                            comment: "test"
                        fixed_ip_assignments:
                          - name: "test"
                            mac: "00:11:22:33:44:55"
                            ip: "1.1.1.25"
                            comment: "Network Infrastructure"

Configuration Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`dhcp`	Object	No	DHCP configuration for routing interface
`dhcp.dhcp_mode`	String	Yes	DHCP mode: “dhcpServer”, “dhcpRelay”, “dhcpDisabled”
`dhcp.dhcp_relay_server_ips`	Array	Conditional	DHCP relay server IPs (required for relay mode)
`dhcp.dhcp_lease_time`	String	No	Lease time: “30 minutes”, “1 hour”, “4 hours”, “8 hours”, “1 day”, “1 week”
`dhcp.dns_nameservers_option`	String	No	DNS option: “googlePublicDns”, “openDns”, “custom”
`dhcp.dns_custom_nameservers`	Array	Conditional	Custom DNS servers (required for custom DNS)
`dhcp.boot_options`	Boolean	No	Enable PXE/network boot options
`dhcp.boot_next_server`	String	Conditional	Next server for PXE boot (required if boot_options enabled)
`dhcp.boot_file_name`	String	Conditional	Boot filename for PXE (required if boot_options enabled)
`dhcp.dhcp_options`	Array	No	Custom DHCP options
`dhcp.dhcp_options[n].code`	String	Yes	DHCP option code (1-254)
`dhcp.dhcp_options[n].type`	String	Yes	Option type: “text”, “ip”, “hex”
`dhcp.dhcp_options[n].value`	String	Yes	Option value based on type
`dhcp.reserved_ip_ranges`	Array	No	IP ranges to exclude from DHCP pool
`dhcp.reserved_ip_ranges[n].start`	String	Yes	Start IP of reserved range
`dhcp.reserved_ip_ranges[n].end`	String	Yes	End IP of reserved range
`dhcp.reserved_ip_ranges[n].comment`	String	No	Description for reserved range
`dhcp.fixed_ip_assignments`	Array	No	Static IP assignments
`dhcp.fixed_ip_assignments[n].name`	String	Yes	Name for fixed assignment
`dhcp.fixed_ip_assignments[n].mac`	String	Yes	MAC address for assignment
`dhcp.fixed_ip_assignments[n].ip`	String	Yes	IP address to assign

DHCP Operating Modes

Mode	Description	Use Case	Configuration Requirements
dhcpServer	Local DHCP service	Distributed DHCP	Subnet configuration
dhcpRelay	Forward to external server	Centralized DHCP	Server IP addresses
dhcpDisabled	No DHCP service	Static addressing	Manual IP configuration

DHCP Lease Time Options

Lease Time	Duration	Use Case	Renewal Behavior
30 minutes	0.5 hours	High-mobility devices	Frequent renewal
1 hour	1 hour	Guest networks	Regular renewal
4 hours	4 hours	Standard workstations	Balanced approach
8 hours	8 hours	Business hours alignment	Daily renewal
1 day	24 hours	Stable devices	Weekly renewal
1 week	168 hours	Servers, printers	Infrequent renewal

DNS Configuration Options

DNS Option	Description	Servers	Use Case
googlePublicDns	Google Public DNS	8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4	General internet access
openDns	OpenDNS Service	208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220	Content filtering
custom	Custom DNS servers	User-specified	Corporate DNS, AD integration

Common DHCP Options

Option Code	Name	Type	Purpose	Example Value
1	Subnet Mask	IP	Network mask	”255.255.255.0”
3	Router	IP	Default gateway	”192.168.1.1”
6	DNS Server	IP	Name resolution	”8.8.8.8”
15	Domain Name	Text	DNS domain	”company.com”
42	NTP Server	IP	Time synchronization	”pool.ntp.org”
66	TFTP Server	Text	Boot server	”pxe.company.com”
67	Boot Filename	Text	Boot file	”pxelinux.0”
150	Cisco IP Phone	IP	VoIP controller	”10.1.1.100”

PXE Boot Configuration

PXE Component	Configuration	Purpose	Requirements
Next Server	TFTP server IP	Boot server location	TFTP service
Boot Filename	Boot file path	Initial boot file	PXE boot loader
DHCP Option 66	TFTP server name	Alternative server specification	DNS resolution
DHCP Option 67	Boot filename	Alternative filename	Boot file availability

VoIP Integration

VoIP Feature	DHCP Implementation	Configuration	Phone Support
Call Manager Discovery	Option 150	IP address list	Cisco phones
VLAN Assignment	Option 132	VLAN ID	802.1Q capable phones
NTP Configuration	Option 42	Time server	Time synchronization
Domain Assignment	Option 15	DNS domain	SIP registration