hardMultiple Choice
FC0-U71 Practice Question: A system administrator needs to automatically…
A system administrator needs to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on the network. Which protocol should be configured on the server?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse DNS with DHCP because both are 'automatic configuration' services, but DNS only resolves names, while DHCP is the protocol that actually hands out IP addresses.
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
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the correct protocol because it is specifically designed to automatically assign IP addresses and other network configuration parameters (such as subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers) to devices on a network. A DHCP server maintains a pool of available addresses and leases them to clients, eliminating the need for manual static IP configuration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
DNS
Why it's wrong here
DNS maps hostnames to existing IP addresses; it stores records rather than leasing addresses, so devices receive no configuration. It is tempting because DNS servers are commonly configured alongside addressing services, and DNS would be correct for resolving internal hostnames to the addresses DHCP has already issued.
- ✗
ICMP
Why it's wrong here
ICMP carries diagnostic and error messages such as echo requests; it has no address-pool or lease concept, so it cannot assign addresses. It is tempting because ICMP is configured on routers and hosts and relates to IP reachability, and would be correct for testing whether an assigned address is reachable.
- ✗
ARP
Why it's wrong here
ARP resolves known IPv4 addresses to MAC addresses within a local subnet; it cannot allocate addresses, so no pool or lease mechanism exists. It is tempting because ARP is configured on hosts and relates directly to IP addressing, and would be the right choice for diagnosing duplicate-address or reachability faults at layer 2.
- ✓
DHCP
Why this is correct
DHCP dynamically leases IP addresses, subnet masks, gateways and DNS settings to clients from a configured pool, satisfying the requirement for automatic address assignment without manual configuration. Alternatives such as static addressing or BOOTP lack this dynamic lease-and-renew mechanism, so DHCP is the protocol to configure on the server.
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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.