CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) — Question 428

A large number of PCs are obtaining an APIPA IP address, and a number of new computers were added to the network. Which of the following is MOST likely causing the PCs to obtain an APIPA address?

Answer options

• A. Rogue DHCP server
• B. Network collision
• C. Incorrect DNS settings
• D. DHCP scope exhaustion

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is D, as DHCP scope exhaustion occurs when there are no available IP addresses left in the DHCP pool for assignment, leading to devices falling back to APIPA addresses. Option A, a rogue DHCP server, might cause issues but wouldn't specifically result in APIPA without a scope issue. Option B, network collision, does not relate directly to IP address allocation. Option C, incorrect DNS settings, pertains to name resolution and does not affect IP address assignment.