- A
DHCPDISCOVER
Why wrong: DHCPDISCOVER is used to locate servers, not to request a specific address.
- B
DHCPOFFER
Why wrong: DHCPOFFER is sent by the server to offer an address.
- C
DHCPREQUEST
DHCPREQUEST is sent by the client to request the offered IP address.
- D
DHCPACK
Why wrong: DHCPACK is sent by the server to acknowledge the request.
Question 806 of 2,152
DHCPREQUEST Message Type
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of dhcp (ipv4 and ipv6). Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which DHCPv4 message type does a client send to request a specific IP address previously offered?
Quick Answer
The answer is the DHCPREQUEST message type. This is correct because, according to RFC 2131, after a client receives a DHCPOFFER from a server, it must broadcast a DHCPREQUEST to formally accept that specific IP address and bind the lease, effectively telling all servers on the network which offer it has chosen. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the DHCPv4 state machine and the four-step DORA process (Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge). A common trap is confusing DHCPREQUEST with DHCPDISCOVER—remember that DISCOVER is the initial broadcast to find any server, while REQUEST is the client’s explicit acceptance of a particular offered address. For a quick memory tip, think of REQUEST as the client saying “I request this specific IP you offered,” which locks in the lease and moves the client to the BOUND state.
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
✓
DHCPREQUEST
Option C is correct because the DHCPREQUEST message is used by the client to formally request the specific IP address that was previously offered by the DHCP server in a DHCPOFFER. This occurs during the DHCP lease selection phase, where the client broadcasts or unicasts a DHCPREQUEST to accept the offered IP address and bind the lease.
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.
- ✗
DHCPDISCOVER
Why it's wrong here
DHCPDISCOVER is used to locate servers, not to request a specific address.
- ✗
DHCPOFFER
Why it's wrong here
DHCPOFFER is sent by the server to offer an address.
- ✓
DHCPREQUEST
Why this is correct
DHCPREQUEST is sent by the client to request the offered IP address.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
DHCPACK
Why it's wrong here
DHCPACK is sent by the server to acknowledge the request.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between DHCPREQUEST used for initial lease selection versus DHCPREQUEST used for lease renewal, where the trap is that candidates confuse the client's request for a specific offered address with the server's acknowledgment (DHCPACK) or the initial discovery (DHCPDISCOVER).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The DHCPREQUEST message can be either broadcast or unicast depending on the phase: during initial lease selection, it is broadcast to inform all servers which offer was accepted; during lease renewal, it is unicast directly to the leasing server. This behavior is defined in RFC 2131, and the client includes the 'server identifier' option in the DHCPREQUEST to specify which server's offer it is accepting, preventing conflicts in multi-server environments.
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 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.
Visual reference
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
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: DHCPREQUEST — Option C is correct because the DHCPREQUEST message is used by the client to formally request the specific IP address that was previously offered by the DHCP server in a DHCPOFFER. This occurs during the DHCP lease selection phase, where the client broadcasts or unicasts a DHCPREQUEST to accept the offered IP address and bind the lease.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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