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300-410 Practice Question: Is troubleshooting a DHCPv4 relay scenario where…
A network engineer is troubleshooting a DHCPv4 relay scenario where clients on subnet 10.1.1.0/24 are unable to obtain IP addresses from a DHCP server at 192.168.1.10. The router interface Gi0/0 (10.1.1.1/24) has 'ip helper-address 192.168.1.10' configured. The engineer captures packets and sees DHCP DISCOVER messages sourced from 10.1.1.1 being sent to 192.168.1.10, but no replies are seen. The server is reachable via ping from the router. What is the most likely cause?
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 is not configured with a scope for subnet 10.1.1.0/24.
The DHCP server may not have a route back to the client subnet (10.1.1.0/24) or the server's default gateway does not have a route. The relay agent sets the gateway IP address (giaddr) to the interface IP (10.1.1.1), and the server sends the OFFER back to that giaddr. If the server cannot reach 10.1.1.1, the reply is lost. However, the engineer confirms the server is reachable via ping, so the issue is likely that the server is not configured with a scope for the 10.1.1.0/24 subnet, causing it to drop the DISCOVER.
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 does not have a route to 10.1.1.0/24.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the server is reachable via ping from the router, indicating routing is functional; the issue is at the application layer.
- ✓
The DHCP server is not configured with a scope for subnet 10.1.1.0/24.
Why this is correct
Correct because if the server has no scope for the client subnet, it will ignore the DISCOVER message and not send any reply, even though the relayed packet reaches the server.
- ✗
The 'ip helper-address' command should be configured on the server-facing interface, not the client-facing interface.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the helper address must be on the interface facing the clients to intercept their DHCP broadcasts.
- ✗
The router needs the 'ip dhcp relay information option' command.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because Option 82 is optional and not required for basic relay; its absence does not prevent the server from receiving the DISCOVER.
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to ENARSI Exam and Network Fundamentals
Key term
DHCP Client and Server
A DHCP client is any device that requests network configuration settings from a DHCP server, which automatically assigns IP addresses and other parameters to devices on a network.
Key term
DHCP Relay Configuration
A DHCP relay configuration allows a router to forward DHCP broadcast requests from clients on one subnet to a DHCP server on a different subnet, enabling centralized IP address management across multiple networks.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.