300-410 Infrastructure Services Practice Question
A network engineer is configuring a Cisco IOS router as a DHCP server for a subnet. The router must exclude the address 10.10.10.1 from being assigned to clients. Which command correctly accomplishes this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is placing the exclusion command inside the DHCP pool configuration mode, where it is not valid, or excluding an entire range instead of a single address.
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
✓
ip dhcp excluded-address 10.10.10.1
The correct way to exclude a single IP address from a Cisco IOS DHCP server is to use the global command 'ip dhcp excluded-address' followed by the specific address. This prevents the DHCP server from assigning that address to any client. The command must be entered in global configuration mode, not within the DHCP pool.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ip dhcp excluded-address 10.10.10.1
Why this is correct
The 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command is used in global configuration mode to prevent the DHCP server from assigning specific IP addresses. Specifying a single address excludes only that address. This is the correct syntax to exclude 10.10.10.1 from the DHCP pool, ensuring it is not offered to clients.
- ✗
ip dhcp excluded-address 10.10.10.1 10.10.10.1
Why it's wrong here
While this command specifies a range from 10.10.10.1 to 10.10.10.1, effectively excluding the same single address, it is not the standard or recommended way. The single-address form is simpler and less error-prone. The two-address form is intended for ranges; using it for a single address is unnecessary and could be confusing.
- ✗
ip dhcp excluded-address 10.10.10.0 10.10.10.255
Why it's wrong here
This command excludes the entire subnet range, which would prevent any addresses from being assigned. The requirement is to exclude only 10.10.10.1, not the whole subnet. Using this would break DHCP service for the subnet. Therefore, it is incorrect for the scenario.
- ✗
ip dhcp pool POOL; excluded-address 10.10.10.1
Why it's wrong here
There is no 'excluded-address' command within DHCP pool configuration mode. Exclusions are configured globally with 'ip dhcp excluded-address'. Placing it inside the pool is invalid syntax and will not work. This mistake often occurs due to confusion between global and pool-level commands.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 300-410 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 300-410 exam.