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DHCP Server Callout API

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The Microsoft DHCP Server Callout API provides access to critical phases of DHCP protocol processing in Windows Server 2003 and later operating systems. This enables developers to:

  • Create customized extensions to the Microsoft DHCP Server
  • Monitor statistics
  • Create parallel lease databases
  • Provide other customized solutions

To gain access to DHCP processing, developers can create a third-party DLL that implements functions defined in this document. The steps are as follows.

The DHCP Server reads a particular registry entry upon startup, which provides the name and location of the third-party DLL.

The DHCP Server then calls the DhcpServerCalloutEntry function implemented in the third-party DLL. This function specifies critical DHCP Server events that should trigger a call into implemented DHCP Server Callout API calls.

Put another way, the DHCP Server calls DhcpServerCalloutEntry to enable the third-party DLL to register for notification of specific DHCP Server events in the form of called DHCP Server API Interfaces implemented in the third-party DLL.