DHCP stands for?

• A. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
• B. Dynamic Host Control Protocol
• C. Distributed Host Configuration Protocol
• D. Dynamic Hardware Configuration Protocol

Answer: (A)

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is the standard way devices on a TCP/IP network get their network settings automatically. It handles more than just the IP address; it also provides other essential parameters like the subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers, so a device can communicate without manual configuration.

In practice, a device that joins the network asks for configuration and a DHCP server responds with an IP address from a defined pool along with the other settings. This process typically happens through a sequence often remembered as Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge. The IP address is issued for a lease duration, after which the device may renew or obtain a new address, helping prevent conflicts and simplifying administration.

The other terms don’t fit because they would imply different concepts—“Control” would suggest only management, “Distributed” implies something spread out in a way that isn’t about assigning IP configuration, and “Hardware” hints at configuring physical hardware rather than network addressing.