Mikrotik Static DHCP Leases How To Assign IP Addresses By MAC

Jul 27, 2025 by ADMIN 62 views

Static DHCP Leases on Mikrotik: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey guys! Ever wondered how to assign static IP addresses to your devices using a Mikrotik router? It's a common scenario, especially when you want certain devices like servers or printers to always have the same IP address. This avoids the hassle of IP addresses changing, which can mess up network configurations and accessibility. You might be familiar with the "Make Static" option in the DHCP server, but that's not quite the full picture. Let's dive deep into how you can achieve true static DHCP leases on your Mikrotik router, ensuring your devices get the same IP every time they connect.

Understanding Static vs. Dynamic IP Addressing

Before we jump into the configuration, let's quickly clarify the difference between static and dynamic IP addressing. Dynamic IP addressing, handled by the DHCP server, automatically assigns IP addresses to devices when they join the network. This is super convenient for most devices, like laptops and smartphones, as you don't need to manually configure anything. The DHCP server has a pool of IP addresses, and it leases them out to devices for a specific duration. Once the lease expires, the device might get a new IP address.

Static IP addressing, on the other hand, involves manually configuring a device with a specific IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers. This means the device will always use the same IP address unless you manually change it. While static IPs offer predictability, they also require more manual management. You need to ensure that the static IP addresses you assign don't conflict with the DHCP server's range or other statically assigned IPs. This is where Mikrotik's static DHCP lease feature comes in handy, bridging the gap between dynamic and static IP management.

Why Use Static DHCP Leases?

So, why would you want to use static DHCP leases instead of just relying on dynamic IPs or manually configuring static IPs? There are several compelling reasons:

Consistency: As mentioned earlier, consistency is key for devices like servers, printers, and network storage devices. You want these devices to always be accessible at the same IP address.
Simplified Configuration: With static DHCP leases, you manage IP assignments centrally from your Mikrotik router. This is much easier than configuring each device individually.
Avoid IP Conflicts: By defining static leases within the DHCP server, you ensure that the assigned IPs are excluded from the dynamic pool, preventing conflicts.
Easy Management: If you ever need to change an IP address, you can do it in one place – the Mikrotik router – instead of having to reconfigure each device.
Centralized Control: Static DHCP leases give you a central point of control for managing IP addresses on your network, making it easier to track which device has which IP.

Configuring Static DHCP Leases on Mikrotik

Alright, let's get to the meat of the matter: configuring static DHCP leases on your Mikrotik router. There are two main ways to do this: using the graphical interface (Winbox) or the command-line interface (CLI). We'll cover both methods to cater to different preferences.

Using Winbox

Winbox is the graphical interface for Mikrotik routers, and it's a user-friendly way to configure static DHCP leases. Here's how you do it:

Connect to your Mikrotik router using Winbox.
Navigate to IP > DHCP Server. This will open the DHCP Server window, where you'll see a list of your DHCP server configurations.
Select the DHCP server you want to configure. If you have multiple DHCP servers, choose the one that serves the network where you want to assign static IPs.
Go to the Leases tab. This tab displays a list of DHCP leases that have been issued by the server.
Find the lease for the device you want to assign a static IP. You can identify the device by its hostname, MAC address, or current IP address.
Right-click on the lease and select "Make Static." This is the option you mentioned earlier, but it's just the first step. While this prevents the IP from changing dynamically, it doesn't guarantee the IP will always be the same if the device disconnects and reconnects.
Double-click on the newly created static lease. This will open the lease configuration window.
In the Address field, verify the IP address. You can change it if needed, but make sure it's within your network's subnet and outside the DHCP server's dynamic IP range.
In the MAC Address field, confirm the MAC address of the device. This is crucial, as the static lease is tied to the device's MAC address.
Add a Comment (optional). It's a good practice to add a comment to identify the device and its purpose. For example, "Printer" or "File Server."
Ensure the "Bypass DHCP" option is NOT checked. This is a critical step. If you check this box, the device will not get an IP address from the DHCP server at all, and the static lease will be effectively ignored.
Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

That's it! You've successfully created a static DHCP lease using Winbox. The next time the device connects to the network, it will be assigned the specified IP address.

Using the CLI

For those who prefer the command line, the Mikrotik CLI offers a powerful way to configure static DHCP leases. Here's how to do it:

Connect to your Mikrotik router using SSH or Telnet.
Enter the following command to access the DHCP server configuration:
```
/ip dhcp-server lease
```
Find the dynamic lease for the device you want to make static. You can use the print command to view the list of leases, and identify the device by its MAC address or IP address.
```
print
```
Use the make-static command followed by the lease number to convert the dynamic lease to a static lease. For example, if the lease number is 0, the command would be:
```
make-static 0
```
Edit the static lease to ensure the correct configuration. Use the set command followed by the lease number and the parameters you want to change. For example, to set the IP address to 192.168.1.100 and add a comment, you would use the following commands:
```
set 0 address=192.168.1.100
set 0 comment="Printer"
```
Verify that the dhcp-option parameter is not set to Bypass DHCP. If it is, remove it using the unset command:
```
unset 0 dhcp-option
```
Print the lease configuration to verify your changes.
```
print 0
```

Here's a consolidated example of the CLI commands:

/ip dhcp-server lease
print
make-static 0
set 0 address=192.168.1.100
set 0 comment="Printer"
unset 0 dhcp-option
print 0

Important Considerations and Troubleshooting

IP Address Conflicts: Make sure the static IP addresses you assign are outside the DHCP server's dynamic IP range. This prevents conflicts when the DHCP server assigns IPs to other devices.
Subnet Mask and Gateway: Ensure the static DHCP lease includes the correct subnet mask and gateway for your network. These settings are essential for the device to communicate properly.
DNS Servers: You might also want to specify DNS servers in the static DHCP lease, especially if the device requires DNS resolution.
Lease Time: Static DHCP leases have an infinite lease time, meaning they don't expire. This is what ensures the device always gets the same IP address.
Device MAC Address: Double-check the MAC address you enter for the static lease. An incorrect MAC address will prevent the device from getting the assigned IP.
Bypass DHCP Option: As emphasized earlier, ensure the Bypass DHCP option is not checked. This is a common mistake that can prevent static leases from working.
Device Reboot: After creating a static DHCP lease, you might need to reboot the device or release/renew its IP address for the changes to take effect.
Firewall Rules: If you have firewall rules configured on your Mikrotik router, make sure they allow traffic to and from the statically assigned IP addresses.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Configuring static DHCP leases on your Mikrotik router is a straightforward process, whether you prefer Winbox or the CLI. By using static DHCP leases, you can ensure that your critical devices always have the same IP address, simplifying network management and preventing headaches. Remember to double-check your configurations, especially the MAC address and the Bypass DHCP option, to avoid common pitfalls. With a little practice, you'll be a static DHCP lease pro in no time! Happy networking, guys!