What is the purpose of configuring a standby server in DHCP failover?

The purpose of configuring a standby server in DHCP failover is to ensure continuous availability of IP address management services in the event that the primary DHCP server becomes unavailable. When a DHCP failover relationship is established, the standby server can assume responsibility for lease requests, renewing leases, and managing IP address allocations if the primary server goes offline or fails. This setup minimizes downtime by allowing the standby server to step in seamlessly without interruption to clients attempting to obtain IP addresses.

Using DHCP failover helps maintain network reliability and provides redundancy for DHCP services, which is crucial for environments with multiple devices requiring dynamic IP address assignment. In doing so, it ensures that users experience minimal disruption, even in the case of server failures.