show ip dhcp pool
Displays the configuration and utilization statistics of a DHCP pool, used to verify pool settings and address allocation status.
show ip dhcp poolWhen to Use This Command
- Verify that a DHCP pool has been configured correctly with the intended subnet, default gateway, and DNS servers.
- Check how many IP addresses from a pool are currently leased versus available to troubleshoot address exhaustion.
- Confirm that a DHCP pool is enabled and active after making configuration changes.
- Audit DHCP pool utilization to plan for subnet expansion or reallocation.
Command Examples
View DHCP pool statistics
show ip dhcp poolPool POOL1 : Utilization mark (high/low) : 100 / 0 Subnet size (first/next) : 24 / 24 Total addresses : 254 Leased addresses : 45 Pending event : none 1 subnet is currently in the pool : Current index IP address range Leased addresses 192.168.1.46 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.254 45
Pool name: POOL1. Utilization mark: high/low thresholds for alerts. Subnet size: prefix length of first and subsequent subnets. Total addresses: 254 usable IPs. Leased addresses: 45 currently assigned. Pending event: none (no pending operations). Subnet table shows current index (next IP to assign), IP range, and leased count.
View DHCP pool with multiple subnets
show ip dhcp poolPool POOL2 : Utilization mark (high/low) : 100 / 0 Subnet size (first/next) : 24 / 24 Total addresses : 508 Leased addresses : 120 Pending event : none 2 subnets are currently in the pool : Current index IP address range Leased addresses 10.0.0.50 10.0.0.1 - 10.0.0.254 60 10.0.1.30 10.0.1.1 - 10.0.1.254 60
Pool POOL2 has two subnets. Total addresses: 508 (254+254). Leased addresses: 120 total across both subnets. Each subnet shows its own current index, range, and leased count. This is useful when a pool spans multiple subnets.
Understanding the Output
The output begins with the pool name. 'Utilization mark' shows high and low percentages that trigger alerts (default 100/0). 'Subnet size' indicates the prefix length of the first subnet and subsequent subnets if auto-expansion is enabled. 'Total addresses' is the sum of all usable IPs across all subnets in the pool. 'Leased addresses' shows how many are currently assigned to clients. 'Pending event' indicates if any DHCP events are queued (e.g., database updates). The subnet list shows each subnet's 'Current index' (the next IP to be assigned), the IP address range, and the number of leased addresses in that subnet. A high lease count relative to total addresses may indicate exhaustion. Watch for 'Pending event' as it can signal delays in address assignment.
CCNA Exam Tips
CCNA exam may ask you to identify the number of available addresses from the output.
Know that 'Utilization mark' is used for SNMP notifications, not for limiting leases.
Be able to differentiate between 'Leased addresses' and 'Total addresses' to calculate utilization.
The 'Current index' shows the next IP to be assigned, not necessarily the lowest available.
Common Mistakes
Confusing 'Leased addresses' with 'Total addresses' and thinking all addresses are used.
Assuming 'Current index' is the first available IP; it's actually the next IP the router will try to assign, which may be in use.
Forgetting that the pool must be bound to a DHCP server configuration (ip dhcp server) for this command to show meaningful data.
Related Commands
show ip dhcp binding
Displays the current DHCP binding table, showing which IP addresses have been leased to clients, along with their MAC addresses, lease expiration, and type of binding.
show ip dhcp server statistics
Displays DHCP server statistics, including the number of messages sent and received, to monitor DHCP server performance and troubleshoot issues.
Practice for the CCNA 200-301
Test your knowledge with hundreds of CCNA practice questions covering all exam domains.
Practice CCNA Questions