300-410 Infrastructure Services Practice Question
A network technician is configuring a Cisco IOS router to act as a DHCP server for a subnet. The technician wants the router to exclude a range of addresses from being assigned to clients. Which command should be used to exclude the addresses?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that address exclusions are configured within the DHCP pool, when in fact they are configured globally.
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 <start-ip> <end-ip>
The correct command to exclude IP addresses from DHCP assignment is 'ip dhcp excluded-address' configured in global configuration mode. This command specifies a range of addresses that the DHCP server will not lease to clients. Other variations either do not exist or are configured in the wrong mode.
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 pool <name> excluded-address <start-ip> <end-ip>
Why it's wrong here
There is no such command as 'excluded-address' within the DHCP pool configuration mode. Exclusions are configured globally, not per pool. The correct command is 'ip dhcp excluded-address' in global configuration mode. Placing it inside a pool would result in an invalid command error.
- ✗
ip dhcp excluded-address <start-ip> <end-ip> inside the interface configuration
Why it's wrong here
The 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command is a global configuration command, not an interface configuration command. Attempting to configure it under an interface would result in an error. The exclusion list applies to all DHCP pools on the router, so it must be configured globally.
- ✗
ip dhcp exclude <start-ip> <end-ip>
Why it's wrong here
The command 'ip dhcp exclude' does not exist in Cisco IOS. The correct keyword is 'excluded-address'. Using an incorrect command would not achieve the desired exclusion. The technician must use the proper syntax to avoid configuration errors and ensure the DHCP server operates correctly.
- ✓
ip dhcp excluded-address <start-ip> <end-ip>
Why this is correct
The 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command is used in global configuration mode to specify a range of IP addresses that the DHCP server should not assign to clients. This is typically used for addresses that are statically assigned to servers, printers, or routers. The command takes a start and end IP address to define the exclusion range.
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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
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