LPIC-2 Network Client Management Practice Question
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of network client management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
subnet 192.168.1.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
range 192.168.1.10 192.168.1.100;
option routers 192.168.1.1;
option domain-name-servers 8.8.8.8;
}
subnet 192.168.2.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
range 192.168.2.10 192.168.2.100;
option routers 192.168.2.1;
option domain-name-servers 8.8.4.4;
}
A client on the 192.168.2.0/24 network cannot obtain an IP address. Other clients on that subnet work fine. The DHCP server logs show no request from the client's MAC. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
No DHCP relay agent is configured on the client's subnet.
The client's DHCP request never reaches the DHCP server, as indicated by the server logs showing no request from the client's MAC. Since other clients on the same subnet work fine, the DHCP server and the local subnet are functional. The most likely cause is that the client's subnet (192.168.2.0/24) lacks a DHCP relay agent (e.g., configured on a router or switch using the 'ip helper-address' command) to forward broadcast DHCPDISCOVER messages to the DHCP server located on a different subnet. Without a relay agent, DHCP broadcasts are confined to the local subnet and cannot reach a remote server.
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.
✓
No DHCP relay agent is configured on the client's subnet.
Why this is correct
Without a relay, broadcast requests don't cross routers.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The range is too small for the number of clients.
Why it's wrong here
Other clients work; the issue is specific to this client.
✗
The subnet declaration for 192.168.2.0 is missing option routers.
Why it's wrong here
Routers option is present.
✗
The client is configured with a static IP address.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the problem is with the DHCP server configuration (e.g., scope exhaustion or missing options) rather than recognizing that the server never received the request, pointing to a Layer 3 forwarding issue like a missing DHCP relay agent.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DHCP relies on UDP broadcasts (source port 68, destination port 67) that are typically not forwarded across routers unless a DHCP relay agent (defined in RFC 1542) is configured. The relay agent intercepts the broadcast, unicasts it to the DHCP server, and relays the response back. In Cisco IOS, this is done with the 'ip helper-address' command on the interface facing the client subnet, which also forwards other broadcast types like TFTP and DNS by default. A common real-world scenario is a misconfigured or missing relay agent when DHCP servers are centralized, causing entire subnets to fail while others work.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Network Client Management — This question tests Network Client Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: No DHCP relay agent is configured on the client's subnet. — The client's DHCP request never reaches the DHCP server, as indicated by the server logs showing no request from the client's MAC. Since other clients on the same subnet work fine, the DHCP server and the local subnet are functional. The most likely cause is that the client's subnet (192.168.2.0/24) lacks a DHCP relay agent (e.g., configured on a router or switch using the 'ip helper-address' command) to forward broadcast DHCPDISCOVER messages to the DHCP server located on a different subnet. Without a relay agent, DHCP broadcasts are confined to the local subnet and cannot reach a remote server.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-2 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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