1.  Install the DHCP server from the Internet Consortium.  There are
    other servers available, but this one is the easiest to configure.

# apt-get install isc-dhcp-server 

2. Edit the server's master configuration file:

# emacs /etc/default/isc-dhcp-server 

In the following file, make sure that your INTERFACES list is exactly
  the interfaces on which you want your DHCP server to listen and give
  out addresses.

Also, check DHCPD_CONF, which you'll edit next. On my system, it's in
  the default location, /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf

---------[ begin /etc/default/isc-dhcp-server ]---------
# Defaults for isc-dhcp-server initscript
# sourced by /etc/init.d/isc-dhcp-server
# installed at /etc/default/isc-dhcp-server by the maintainer scripts

#
# This is a POSIX shell fragment
#

# Path to dhcpd's config file (default: /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf).
#DHCPD_CONF=/etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf

# Path to dhcpd's PID file (default: /var/run/dhcpd.pid).
#DHCPD_PID=/var/run/dhcpd.pid

# Additional options to start dhcpd with.
#	Don't use options -cf or -pf here; use DHCPD_CONF/ DHCPD_PID instead
#OPTIONS=""

# On what interfaces should the DHCP server (dhcpd) serve DHCP requests?
#	Separate multiple interfaces with spaces, e.g. "eth0 eth1".
INTERFACES="eth0"
---------[ end /etc/default/isc-dhcp-server ]---------

3. Edit the configuration file proper:

# emacs /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf

(See my example of dhcpd.conf; my edits are very few. I saved the
   original template file for reference, as dhcpd_conf_orig.txt; do
   "diff -u dhcpd_conf_orig.txt dhcpd.conf" to compare.)

4. Start the server:

# /etc/init.d/isc-dhcp-server start