DacatDHCP vs Kubernesis DDI

DacatDHCP combines an IPv4 DHCP service with a web interface for configuring address pools, viewing leases, and monitoring status. The lightweight single-file application bundles the service and management interface. Settings include network-interface selection, address ranges, gateway, DNS, and lease duration. The interface shows assigned addresses and client information, while version 1.0.0 adds fixed MAC-to-IP mappings with matching logs. The main release supports Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2016 or later on Windows amd64. Management works in Edge, Chrome, and other modern Chromium-based browsers; Internet Explorer 11 is not supported. The interface listens on 127.0.0.1, and write endpoints use CSRF and origin checks. Administrator privileges are required. DacatDHCP is permanently free and open source under Apache License 2.0. It is intended for labs, test environments, temporary LANs, small networks, troubleshooting, and isolated networks. Address pools must share the selected interface’s subnet. Leases remain in memory after startup and are not restored after restart; active IP-conflict detection is not provided.

Kubernesis DDI provides managed DHCP, DNS, and IP address management across headquarters, branches, cloud, and remote sites. One console handles scopes, ranges, exclusions, reservations, and options for IPv4 and IPv6. New leases automatically create matching address and DNS records, while expired leases are released. Critical scopes can run on server pairs that continue issuing and renewing leases after one server fails, and large branches can use local DHCP during WAN outages. A REST API creates scopes and reservations in provisioning workflows. Lease history retains MAC address, hostname, and device type associations; unknown devices can be flagged, and lease records can be forwarded to a SIEM. Deployment supports high-availability appliances or virtual installations across on-premises and cloud environments. Kubernesis can import Windows DHCP or ISC DHCP configurations and perform staged cutovers with rollback. Integrations include identity providers, SIEMs, service-management tools, cloud platforms, hypervisors, and network vendors. Operations are covered by an agreed SLA with engineers in Gurugram, India. Pricing is on request.