LPIC-2 Network Client Management Practice Question
Which THREE conditions can cause a Linux DHCP client to fail to obtain an IP address? (Select THREE.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume a subnet mismatch (Option B) always prevents DHCP, but DHCP servers can offer addresses from different subnets if configured appropriately, and the client can accept them; the real failure condition is when the server cannot respond at all, such as with exhausted pools or MAC filtering.
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
✓
A firewall on the client is blocking UDP port 67 (DHCP server).
A client-side firewall blocking UDP port 67 prevents the DHCP client from receiving DHCPOFFER and DHCPACK messages from the server. DHCP uses UDP ports 67 (server) and 68 (client); blocking port 67 on the client disrupts inbound server responses, causing the client to fail to obtain an IP address.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A firewall on the client is blocking UDP port 67 (DHCP server).
Why this is correct
DHCP uses UDP ports 67 and 68; blocking port 67 prevents the client from receiving DHCPOFFER messages.
- ✗
The DHCP server is configured with a different subnet than the client's broadcast domain.
Why it's wrong here
Without a DHCP relay, the server would not receive requests; but if a relay is present, it can still assign addresses from a different subnet.
- ✓
The DHCP server's address pool is exhausted.
Why this is correct
No available IP addresses means the client cannot obtain a lease.
- ✓
The DHCP server has MAC address filtering enabled and the client's MAC is not allowed.
Why this is correct
MAC filtering prevents the client from receiving an IP address.
- ✗
The client interface is configured with a static IP address.
Why it's wrong here
A static IP means the client is not using DHCP at all, so it won't attempt to obtain an address.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This LPIC-2 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 LPIC-2 exam.