The DHCP server offers various operating modes. In the forwarding mode, the device acts in the local network like a DHCP relay and forwards requests to one of more pre-defined DHCP servers. This setting facilitates the operation of central DHCP servers in another network.
All DHCP messages sent by DHCP clients as a broadcast are forwarded to all predefined DHCP servers. The client selects the first server to answer and sends all subsequent messages as unicasts directly to that server. If the selected server becomes unavailable, the client once again transmits broadcast messages and selects another DHCP server.