mediumMultiple Choice
CCNP Practice Question: Runs the following command on Router R2: R2#…
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R2:
R2# debug ip dhcp server events *Mar 1 00:05:23.123: DHCPD: DHCPDISCOVER received from client 0063.6973.636f.2d30.3030.302e.3030.3030.2e30.3030.312d.4574.30 on interface GigabitEthernet0/1 *Mar 1 00:05:23.124: DHCPD: Sending DHCPOFFER to client 0063.6973.636f.2d30.3030.302e.3030.3030.2e30.3030.312d.4574.30 (10.0.0.2) *Mar 1 00:05:23.125: DHCPD: DHCPREQUEST received from client 0063.6973.636f.2d30.3030.302e.3030.3030.2e30.3030.312d.4574.30 *Mar 1 00:05:23.126: DHCPD: Sending DHCPACK to client 0063.6973.636f.2d30.3030.302e.3030.3030.2e30.3030.312d.4574.30 (10.0.0.2)
Based on this debug output, what can be concluded?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the ability to interpret debug output by showing a successful DHCPACK and having candidates incorrectly assume a failure because they misread the hexadecimal client ID as DHCPv6 or because they confuse the DHCPOFFER with a final assignment.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The DHCP server successfully assigned IP address 10.0.0.2 to the client.
The debug output shows the complete DHCPv4 four-message exchange: DHCPDISCOVER, DHCPOFFER, DHCPREQUEST, and DHCPACK. The final DHCPACK from the server to the client with IP address 10.0.0.2 confirms that the server successfully assigned that address to the client. The absence of any DHCPNAK or error message indicates a successful allocation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The DHCP server failed to allocate an IP address to the client.
Why it's wrong here
If the DHCP server failed to allocate an IP address, it would reply with a DHCPNAK to the DHCPREQUEST. Instead, the final packet in the trace is a DHCPACK, which is the server's affirmative acknowledgment that the lease has been created for the client's identifier. A DHCPACK can only be sent after the server successfully selects a free address from an available pool, so this option directly contradicts the observed output.
- ✗
The client is using DHCPv6 because of the long client ID.
Why it's wrong here
The client identifier shown is a DHCPv4 option 61 value, typically starting with a hardware type byte followed by the MAC address; its length is irrelevant to the version of DHCP. DHCPv6 clients are identified by DUIDs and use a different message flow, with Solicit, Advertise, Request, and Reply, and the server assigns a 128-bit IPv6 address. This trace uses DHCPv4 message names and an IPv4 address (10.0.0.2), so the length of the client ID does not indicate DHCPv6 at all.
- ✓
The DHCP server successfully assigned IP address 10.0.0.2 to the client.
Why this is correct
The DHCPACK message carries the allocated IPv4 address in the 'yiaddr' field; here that value is 10.0.0.2. After receiving a DHCPREQUEST, the server verifies the binding and responds with DHCPACK to conclude the lease creation process. This proves the server successfully assigned that specific address to the client, and the client is now permitted to configure 10.0.0.2 on its interface.
- ✗
The DHCP server is configured with a pool that excludes 10.0.0.2.
Why it's wrong here
If the DHCP pool excluded 10.0.0.2, the server's DHCPOFFER step would have skipped that address and selected a different one from the pool. The output shows that both the DHCPOFFER and DHCPACK contain 10.0.0.2, so the address is not only present in the pool but is the one chosen for the binding. Exclusion ranges are used to reserve addresses for static assignment, and a server can never lease an excluded address.
Visual reference
About these practice questions
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-401 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-401 exam.