[ervier]

I have setup a small network with my Mac (OSX 10.2.8) and a Windows 2000 laptop. My Mac is connected to the internet, and I can browse with the laptop normally. I don't use Airport, not a router, just a normal ethernet-hub.

The one thing that I don't like is that I have to reconfigure my laptop everytime I change from my home network to the office network. At work I can use DHCP, at home not, so I have to set an IP-number manually. If I could use DHCP at home, just connecting the cable would be enough (I suppose).

The problem is how to setup DHCP on the Mac so it can configure the laptop for the network. Any ideas, manuals, links?

On the Apple website I only found info about Mac OS X Server. Furthermore I found that FreeBSD doesn't come with a DHCP server, only a client, so it looks like there is no DHCP server on the Mac, or am I wrong? On versiontracker I didn't find anything, on Google I found http://www.isc.org/products/DHCP/ but I don't know if this works on a Mac.

[ghporter]

How is your Mac connected to the Internet? It really makes a difference, particularly if you're moving the laptop back and forth between home and work.

My first impulse would be to have you get an inexpensive cable/DSL router, which would make things much simpler for you. You'd connect the router to your broadband connection, set it up as a DHCP (they all do that), and connect both computers to it. This way, your Mac would be able to stay set for DHCP, and your PC could connect even if your Mac was turned off or not connected.

[OreoCookie]

Just take a look at the FreeBSD Handbook, available at www.freebsd.org.

A router may be the easier option, though, if you don't feel comfortable with the command line.

Alternatively, you could always install webmin and use that to configure the dhcpd with that GUI. That's a piece of cake.