DHCP domain host control protocol DHCP is a protocol for dynamically assigning IP addresses to networked computers. With DHCP, a computer can automatically be given a unique IP address each time it connects to a network--making IP address management an easier task for network administrators. When a computer logs on to the network, the DHCP server selects an IP address from a master list and assigns it to the system. Windows 95 and NT systems include DHCP support.