The correct answer is that the DHCP server is rejecting requests (NAKs) and clients are declining offers, indicating possible pool exhaustion or address conflicts. This is directly supported by the show ip dhcp server statistics output, where 5 NAKs show the server refusing client requests—typically because the requested IP is no longer valid or the pool is exhausted—while 2 Declines reveal clients detecting address conflicts via ARP and rejecting the offered address. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this command tests your ability to interpret DHCP server health and troubleshoot common IPv4 addressing issues; a frequent trap is confusing NAKs (server-side rejections) with Declines (client-side rejections). Remember, NAKs point to pool or lease problems, while Declines point to duplicate IP conflicts. A useful memory tip: NAKs are the server saying “No,” Declines are the client saying “No, thanks.”
300-410 DHCP (IPv4 and IPv6) Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of dhcp (ipv4 and ipv6). Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R1:
R1# show ip dhcp server statistics
Memory usage 26140
Address conflicts 0
Pool statistics
Pool IP addresses Requests Offers Acks Naks Declines Releases
POOL1 10-20 50 45 40 5 2 3
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 rejecting requests (Naks) and clients are declining offers, indicating possible pool exhaustion or address conflicts.
The output shows 5 NAKs and 2 Declines, indicating that the DHCP server is rejecting requests (NAKs) and clients are declining offers (Declines). NAKs typically occur when a client requests an IP address that is no longer valid or available, while Declines happen when a client detects an address conflict via ARP. This combination strongly suggests pool exhaustion or address conflicts, making option B correct.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 is operating without any issues.
Why it's wrong here
There are Naks and Declines, indicating problems.
✓
The DHCP server is rejecting requests (Naks) and clients are declining offers, indicating possible pool exhaustion or address conflicts.
Why this is correct
Naks and Declines are signs of issues.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The DHCP server has a memory problem.
Why it's wrong here
Memory usage is shown but not indicated as a problem.
✗
The DHCP server has no address conflicts.
Why it's wrong here
Address conflicts are 0, but declines indicate conflicts detected by clients.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between server-tracked address conflicts (shown in the 'Address conflicts' counter) and client-detected conflicts (shown as Declines), leading candidates to incorrectly assume zero conflicts means no issues.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Memory usage is shown but not indicated as a problem.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DHCP NAKs are sent by the server when a client's requested IP address is not within the pool or is already assigned elsewhere, often due to pool exhaustion or stale leases. Declines occur when a client performs a gratuitous ARP and detects that the offered IP is already in use, which can happen even if the server's conflict counter is zero because the server may not be aware of the conflict. In real-world scenarios, a high ratio of NAKs to ACKs (here 5 out of 45) is a strong indicator of pool size misconfiguration or rapid lease turnover.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 300-410 question in full detail.
DHCP (IPv4 and IPv6) — This question tests DHCP (IPv4 and IPv6) — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The DHCP server is rejecting requests (Naks) and clients are declining offers, indicating possible pool exhaustion or address conflicts. — The output shows 5 NAKs and 2 Declines, indicating that the DHCP server is rejecting requests (NAKs) and clients are declining offers (Declines). NAKs typically occur when a client requests an IP address that is no longer valid or available, while Declines happen when a client detects an address conflict via ARP. This combination strongly suggests pool exhaustion or address conflicts, making option B correct.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Variation 1. A network engineer runs the following command to verify DHCPv4 server statistics on router R1:
R1# show ip dhcp server statistics
Output:
Memory usage: 12345
Address pools: 2
Database agents: 0
Automatic bindings: 150
Manual bindings: 5
Expired bindings: 10
Malformed messages: 0
Message Received
BOOTREQUEST 0
DHCPDISCOVER 200
DHCPREQUEST 180
DHCPDECLINE 2
DHCPRELEASE 5
DHCPINFORM 10
What does this output indicate?
medium
✓ A.The DHCP server has 150 active automatic bindings and 5 manual bindings.
B.The DHCP server has received 200 DHCPREQUEST messages.
C.The DHCP server has 10 malformed messages, indicating a configuration issue.
D.The DHCP server has 2 database agents configured.
Why A: The show ip dhcp server statistics command provides counts of various DHCP messages and bindings. Here, 200 DISCOVERs were received but only 180 REQUESTs, indicating some clients did not proceed after the OFFER. There are 150 automatic bindings and 5 manual (static) bindings.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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