220-1101 Networking Practice Question
A small office network uses a single router configured as a DHCP server for the 192.168.1.0/24 network. The DHCP scope is set to 192.168.1.10 - 192.168.1.50. Over the past week, several workstations have reported intermittent connectivity. The technician checks a workstation and finds that its IP address has changed from 192.168.1.20 to 169.254.15.100. Other workstations also show similar APIPA addresses. The DHCP server logs indicate that many lease requests are being declined. The network has 45 devices that require IP addresses. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the concept that APIPA addresses indicate a DHCP failure, but the trap here is that candidates may overlook the simple math of scope size versus device count, instead blaming a server malfunction or network flooding.
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 scope is too small for the number of devices on the network
The DHCP scope is 192.168.1.10–192.168.1.50, which provides only 41 usable addresses. With 45 devices requiring IP addresses, the scope is exhausted. When a DHCP server cannot assign an address, clients self-assign an APIPA address (169.254.x.x) per RFC 3927, explaining the intermittent connectivity and declined lease requests.
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 malfunctioning and needs to be restarted
Why it's wrong here
A malfunctioning DHCP server might not respond at all, but in this case, the server is declining requests, which indicates it is running but has no available addresses. Restarting would not create more pool capacity.
- ✓
The DHCP scope is too small for the number of devices on the network
Why this is correct
With only 41 usable addresses in the scope and 45 devices, the DHCP pool is exhausted. When clients attempt to renew leases, the server cannot offer an address, so it declines, causing clients to self-assign APIPA addresses.
- ✗
The DNS server is not resolving hostnames correctly
Why it's wrong here
DNS resolves names after a client already holds a valid IP lease, so it cannot produce 169.254 addresses or declined lease requests. DNS failure would be the correct diagnosis when clients have working IP addresses but cannot resolve hostnames.
- ✗
The network switch is flooding the network with broadcast traffic
Why it's wrong here
Broadcast flooding consumes bandwidth but does not cause DHCP servers to decline leases; APIPA appears because the scope of 41 addresses is exhausted by 45 devices. Broadcast storms would be the cause of general slowness, not of clients failing to obtain a lease.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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