Provisioning with DHCP “Option 66”

In this article:

• Creating the DHCP Option 66
• Global Scope
• Reservation Scope
• String Value
  • TFTP Phones
  • Cisco 79XX
  • HTTP Phones
  • Cisco SPA
  • Aastra
  • Polycom
  • Panasonic

Creating the DHCP Option 66

Note: Not all DHCP servers have the capability to add or change the scope option, namely built in DHCP servers in Firewalls/ Routers.

When using the Microsoft DHCP server, the option can be set from the DHCP Console (“Administrative tools > DHCP“). Other DHCP servers can also be used to accomplish this, however the following guide is based on the Microsoft DHCP server.

DHCP Option 66 was used in a recent deployment – read more about that here.

There are three options that can be used:

1. Global Scope – The option will apply to each DHCP client
2. Reservation Scope – The option will apply to matching MAC addresses only
3. Dynamic Scope – This option requires a device vendor identification.

Global Scope

1. Open the DHCP server
2. Navigate to the IPv4 Scope to “Scope Options”
3. Scroll down to find Option 66 “Boot Server Host Name”
4. Navigate to your phone on this page to find what needs to be entered in the “String Value” field.

Reservation Scope

1. Open the DHCP Server
2. Navigate to the IPv4 Scope to “Reservations“
3. Right click this option and select “New Reservation“
4. Enter a name, the MAC address of the IP Phone and the assigned IP address
5. Right click on the created reservation.
6. Select “Configure Options“
7. Scroll down to find and select Option 66 “Boot Server Host Name“
8. Navigate to your phone on this page to find what needs to be entered in the “String Value” field.

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