CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is the outcome if a DHCP address pool has been exhausted?

1. All devices will connect to the internet

2. New clients will receive an APIPA address

3. All clients will be disconnected

4. Devices will automatically renew their lease

The correct answer is: New clients will receive an APIPA address

When a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) address pool is exhausted, the result is that new clients attempting to connect to the network will not be able to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server. Instead, these clients will self-assign an APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) address, which typically falls within the range of 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254. This self-assigned address allows devices to communicate on the local network, but they will not be able to reach outside networks, such as the internet. The APIPA mechanism serves as a fallback for clients when DHCP is unavailable, ensuring that devices can still participate in local communication even when they cannot get an address from the DHCP server. This is particularly helpful for small networks or when troubleshooting connectivity issues. In contrast, the other options indicate scenarios that do not occur when the DHCP pool is exhausted. Devices will not automatically renew their leases since the server has no available addresses to offer. New clients cannot connect to the internet as they lack valid IP addresses, and not all clients will be disconnected – existing clients with valid leases will continue to stay connected until their lease expires.