• What is DHCP and why is it important?

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a tool that simplifies the running of a network of Internet connected computers. You don’t have to be an Internet engineer or IT network administrator to use and understand DHCP, but it helps. What running a DHCP network means is that instead of having to rely on a static IP address, a computer will be assigned one by the router from a “pool”. When a DHCP router assigns an IP address, it actually loans that number to your computer for a specific amount of time. That time may vary from router to router but it is generally not something that you, the user, should be concerned with. It is just a cleaning and management function that the router does internally.

Just remember, home networking may not be rocket science, but no one ever said it was going to be easy to understand.  ;)