Which protocol is used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices?

Which protocol is used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices?

• A. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
• B. Simple Network Management Protocol
• C. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
• D. Session Initiation Protocol

Answer: (A)

Automatic IP address assignment is handled by a protocol that configures devices with all the network settings they need. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol does exactly that. It uses a client-server model: a device seeks configuration, a DHCP server offers an available IP from a defined pool, the device requests that IP, and the server confirms with a lease. This process ensures each device gets a unique address and allows centralized control over the network configuration, including how long the address is valid. DHCP can also provide other essential parameters such as subnet mask, default gateway, DNS servers, and even the device’s hostname. Without this protocol, administrators would have to assign addresses manually, which is tedious and error-prone as networks scale. The other options serve different roles—SNMP is for monitoring and managing devices, LDAP is for directory services, and SIP is for signaling multimedia sessions—so they don’t handle automatic IP address assignment.

Automatic IP address assignment is handled by a protocol that configures devices with all the network settings they need. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol does exactly that. It uses a client-server model: a device seeks configuration, a DHCP server offers an available IP from a defined pool, the device requests that IP, and the server confirms with a lease. This process ensures each device gets a unique address and allows centralized control over the network configuration, including how long the address is valid. DHCP can also provide other essential parameters such as subnet mask, default gateway, DNS servers, and even the device’s hostname.

Without this protocol, administrators would have to assign addresses manually, which is tedious and error-prone as networks scale. The other options serve different roles—SNMP is for monitoring and managing devices, LDAP is for directory services, and SIP is for signaling multimedia sessions—so they don’t handle automatic IP address assignment.