Cisco CCNA (200-301)Network FundamentalsMedium

A network administrator needs to ensure that a critical server always receives the same IP address from the DHCP server. Which DHCP feature should the administrator configure?

  1. ADHCP relay
  2. BIP helper-address
  3. CDHCP reservation
  4. DDHCP exclusion
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. DHCP reservation

DHCP reservation allows an administrator to map a specific IP address to a device's MAC address. This ensures that the DHCP server always assigns the same IP address to that particular device when it requests one.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. DHCP relay is used to forward DHCP requests between clients and a DHCP server located on a different subnet.
  • B. IP helper-address is the Cisco IOS command used to configure DHCP relay on a router interface.
  • D. DHCP exclusion prevents the DHCP server from assigning a specific range of IP addresses from its pool, but it doesn't guarantee a specific address to a specific device.

DHCP Reservation

DHCP reservation is a feature that allows a DHCP server to consistently assign the same IP address to a specific client, identified by its MAC address.

  • Maps a static IP to a dynamic MAC address.
  • Ensures critical devices like servers or printers always get the same address.
  • Configured on the DHCP server itself.

Memory trick: The DHCP server is like a landlord, assigning addresses. Reservations are like a permanent lease.

More Network Fundamentals questions