Question: Refer to the exhibit. A newly purchased client laptop has just connected to the local area network. The local area network is using a wireless router that is providing dynamic addressing as shown. Which IP address does the laptop use as a destination address when requesting a dynamically assigned address?
Network Setup
- IP Address: 192.168.0.1
- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
DHCP Sever Settings
- DHCP Sever: Enabled
- Start IP Address: 192.168.0.100
- IP Address Range: 192.168.0.100 – 149
- Static DNS 1: 192.168.0.1
Answer:
- 255.255.255.0
- 192.168.0.1
- 192.168.0.100
- 255.255.255.255
- 192.168.0.255
Explanation: When a client laptop, such as the newly purchased one in question, connects to the local area network (LAN) and wants to request a dynamically assigned IP address, it uses the destination IP address 255.255.255.255. This is the broadcast address, and the laptop sends a DHCP Discover message to this address. The DHCP server on the network, which in this case is the wireless router, will then respond to the request with a DHCP Offer message containing an available IP address from its configured range (192.168.0.100 – 192.168.0.149).
The process of obtaining a dynamic IP address for a new laptop connected to a local area network (LAN) with a wireless router.
- The new laptop connects to the wireless network and needs an IP address to communicate with other devices on the network.
- The laptop sends a special message called a “DHCP Discover” to request an IP address. This message is sent as a broadcast, meaning it’s sent to all devices on the network. The broadcast destination IP address is 255.255.255.255.
- The wireless router in this network has a DHCP server enabled. This DHCP server is responsible for dynamically assigning IP addresses to devices that request them.
- When the DHCP server (in this case, the wireless router) receives the DHCP Discover message from the laptop, it looks for an available IP address within its configured IP address range (192.168.0.100 – 192.168.0.149).
- The DHCP server then sends a “DHCP Offer” message to the laptop, offering it an available IP address.
- The laptop accepts the offered IP address by sending a “DHCP Request” message back to the DHCP server.
- Finally, the DHCP server sends a “DHCP Acknowledgment” message to the laptop, confirming the assignment of the IP address.
In this process, the laptop initially uses the destination IP address 255.255.255.255 when requesting a dynamically assigned address. This broadcast address allows the laptop to reach the DHCP server, which then assigns it an IP address from the available range.