Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What is a characteristic of dynamic IP addressing in a DHCP server configuration?

1. Clients are assigned IP addresses for a limited amount of time

2. IP addresses are manually assigned by a network administrator

3. Non-expiring IP addresses are assigned to clients

4. All clients receive the same static IP address

The correct answer is: Clients are assigned IP addresses for a limited amount of time

Dynamic IP addressing through a DHCP server is characterized by the temporary assignment of IP addresses to clients for a specified lease time. When a client connects to the network, it requests an IP address from the DHCP server, which then allocates an available IP address for a limited duration. After this period, the client either must renew its lease for that IP address or be assigned a different one if it reconnects later. This process allows for efficient management of IP address allocation and helps accommodate fluctuating numbers of devices on the network. The other choices reflect characteristics that do not align with dynamic addressing. Manual assignments indicate static IP addressing, while non-expiring IP addresses suggest a static approach as well. Finally, having all clients receive the same static IP address undermines the very purpose of dynamic addressing, where each device should typically have a unique IP for proper communication.