This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network protocols. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
During a network upgrade, a technician needs to ensure that all devices on a small office LAN receive IP addresses automatically from a central server. Which protocol must be running on that server?
DNS
Why wrong: DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses, it does not assign IP addresses.
HTTP
Why wrong: HTTP is used for web traffic, not for IP address assignment.
DHCP
DHCP is the protocol used to automatically assign IP addresses and other network settings to clients.
FTP
Why wrong: FTP is used for file transfers, not for IP address assignment.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
DHCP
This question tests the fundamental role of DHCP in automatic IP address assignment. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is the standard protocol for dynamically assigning IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and other network parameters to clients.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Common exam traps
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
What to study next
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 220-1201 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Network Protocols — This question tests Network Protocols — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
The correct answer is: DHCP — This question tests the fundamental role of DHCP in automatic IP address assignment. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is the standard protocol for dynamically assigning IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and other network parameters to clients.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 220-1201 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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