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FC0-U71 Practice Question: A network administrator wants to automatically…
A network administrator wants to automatically assign IP addresses to all devices on the network. Which service should be configured on the server?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse DHCP with DNS because both are network services, but DNS resolves names to IPs while DHCP assigns IPs to devices.
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
✓
DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the correct service because it automatically assigns IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and other network configuration parameters to devices on a network. This eliminates the need for manual static IP configuration and ensures each device receives a unique IP address from a defined pool, preventing address conflicts.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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DNS
Why it's wrong here
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses but does not allocate them; clients still need addresses assigned by another service. It is tempting because DNS is a core network service often configured alongside addressing, and would be correct when the requirement is name resolution rather than automatic IP assignment.
- ✓
DHCP
Why this is correct
DHCP dynamically leases IP addresses, subnet masks, gateways and DNS settings to clients from a defined pool, automating address assignment across the network. Static manual configuration would not scale, and DNS resolves names rather than assigning addresses.
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HTTP
Why it's wrong here
HTTP serves web content and carries no address-leasing mechanism, so it cannot hand out IP addresses. It is tempting because clients use HTTP constantly and it runs on servers, and would be the correct service when publishing a web application rather than configuring automatic addressing.
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NAT
Why it's wrong here
NAT translates private addresses to public ones at the boundary; it does not assign addresses to internal devices. It is tempting because NAT is closely tied to IP addressing and conserves public ranges, and would be correct when the requirement is outbound internet access for private hosts.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 FC0-U71 exam.