This post was originally published on Network Computing
In today’s hyper-connected landscape, there is an ever-increasing demand for IT devices that can be deployed rapidly and at scale. This is especially true as network and IT managers look to deploy more network-connected power management devices to support critical workloads, making the need to configure and commission large numbers of these devices simultaneously imperative.
Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP) has emerged as an attractive solution to help streamline the deployment of network-connected power devices and propel advancement in the fast-paced network environment. By leveraging ZTP, organizations can automate the configuration process – significantly reducing the risk of human error and the time typically required for manual configuration.
A dynamic network setup
At the heart of ZTP lies Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), a foundational network protocol that assigns IP addresses to devices (clients) on a network, facilitating their communication within the network and with external systems. DHCP is an essential network protocol used in IP networks to dynamically assign IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices, thereby simplifying network administration.
DHCP’s capabilities extend beyond basic IP address assignment in providing various configuration details to devices via DHCP options. These options are instrumental in ZTP, allowing devices to automatically receive critical configuration information, including
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