Tiny DHCP Server is a highly lightweight, minimalist network utility designed for Windows operating systems to automatically allocate IP addresses to local network devices. At only about 100 kB in size, it features a basic user interface that avoids the complexity of standard enterprise DHCP infrastructure. Key Features
Automatic & Static Allocation: It can randomly generate unique client IP addresses from an available pool or dynamically assign fixed IP addresses to specific devices.
Configurable Parameters: Admins can easily customize network variables such as subnet masks, lease times, domain and host names, and up to 20 gateways.
DNS Proxy & Filtering: The utility acts as a local DNS proxy. It caches requests to boost web page load speeds, allows custom IP mapping (similar to a local hosts file), and includes basic website blacklisting. Typical Use Cases
Because it requires zero installation and is stored as a single, portable executable, it is commonly used by system administrators for temporary network staging, ad-hoc lab environments, and troubleshooting offline clients. Modern Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives that are actively maintained or work across different platforms, consider these options:
DHCP Server for Windows: A widely trusted, portable utility that stores configurations in an easily readable .ini file.
dnsmasq: The industry standard lightweight option for Linux and embedded router environments.
DHCPLite: An open-source, configuration-free, scriptable minimalist server built for quick Windows deployment.
If you are setting this up, let me know your operating system, your network size, and whether you need advanced features like TFTP or DNS routing so I can recommend the exact configuration you need! DHCP Server for Windows
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