The answer is to identify the device with that MAC address and replace its network interface card. This is correct because a faulty NIC can generate corrupted or random DHCPREQUEST messages, causing the same MAC address to request different IP addresses in rapid succession, which leads to IP conflicts and connectivity drops. On the LPIC-2 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish hardware faults from software misconfigurations in DHCP troubleshooting; a common trap is to assume a rogue DHCP server or a lease time issue, but the key clue is the single MAC with frequent, varied requests. Remember that a healthy NIC sends consistent DHCPREQUESTs for its assigned lease, so erratic requests point to physical layer failure. Memory tip: “One MAC, many IPs? Check the chip.”
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.
You are a system administrator at a small company. The network uses DHCP to assign IP addresses to clients. Recently, some users reported intermittent network connectivity issues. Upon investigation, you notice that the DHCP server is running on a Linux server with the ISC DHCP daemon. The server log shows many 'DHCPREQUEST' messages from a particular MAC address with frequent changes in requested IP addresses. Users with that MAC address are experiencing IP address conflicts and connectivity drops. What is the most likely cause and the best corrective action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Identify the device with that MAC address and replace its network interface card.
The frequent DHCPREQUEST messages from the same MAC address requesting different IP addresses indicate a faulty network interface card (NIC) that is generating random or corrupted DHCP requests, likely due to hardware malfunction. Replacing the NIC eliminates the root cause by stopping the spurious traffic, whereas other options only mask symptoms or fail to address the hardware fault.
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.
✗
Increase the DHCP lease time to reduce the frequency of renewals.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing lease time may reduce renewals but does not stop the problematic device from causing conflicts.
✗
Add a static DHCP mapping for the problematic MAC address to a reserved IP.
Why it's wrong here
A static mapping might prevent conflicts but does not stop the faulty device from flooding requests; it could still cause issues.
✓
Identify the device with that MAC address and replace its network interface card.
Why this is correct
The faulty NIC is likely sending multiple requests, causing conflicts. Replacing it resolves the issue.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Restart the DHCP daemon to clear the lease database.
Why it's wrong here
Restarting might temporarily clear leases but the problematic device will cause the same issue again.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a software or configuration fix (like static mapping or lease adjustment) will solve what is actually a hardware failure, because the symptom appears as a DHCP protocol anomaly rather than a physical layer problem.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A malfunctioning NIC can produce duplicate or malformed DHCP packets due to faulty hardware buffers or MAC address corruption, leading to rapid lease churn. The ISC DHCP server logs 'DHCPREQUEST' with varying requested IPs because the client’s DHCP client daemon (e.g., dhclient) may be sending discover/request cycles with different transaction IDs or client identifiers, causing the server to treat each as a new client. In real-world scenarios, this often manifests as a 'NIC flapping' issue, where the interface intermittently drops and reconnects, triggering repeated DHCP negotiations.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Identify the device with that MAC address and replace its network interface card. — The frequent DHCPREQUEST messages from the same MAC address requesting different IP addresses indicate a faulty network interface card (NIC) that is generating random or corrupted DHCP requests, likely due to hardware malfunction. Replacing the NIC eliminates the root cause by stopping the spurious traffic, whereas other options only mask symptoms or fail to address the hardware fault.
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: "best", "most likely". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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