100-140 Question 197
Single answerA user reports that their computer is unable to connect to the network. Upon investigation, you notice that the system has an IP address of 169.254.12.45. What is the most likely reason for this and how can you resolve the issue?
- A
The computer has been assigned an APIPA address because it couldn't reach a DHCP server. Restart the DHCP service or configure the network settings manually.
- B
The computer has been assigned a static IP address. Change the IP settings to dynamic to resolve the issue.
- C
The computer's IP address is misconfigured due to a conflict with another device. Check for duplicate IP addresses on the network.
- D
The computer is correctly configured, and the issue lies with the DNS server. Reset the DNS settings to restore connectivity.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
When a device is unable to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server, it assigns itself an APIPA address in the 169.254.x.x range. This is a fallback mechanism that allows limited local communication but no external network or internet access. To resolve the issue, ensure the DHCP server is operational, restart the DHCP service, or manually assign a valid IP address.
- A. Correct.
This is correct. A 169.254.x.x address is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, which is assigned when a device cannot reach a DHCP server. Restarting the DHCP service or configuring the network manually can resolve this issue.
- B. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. A static IP address is manually assigned, and 169.254.x.x is not a valid static IP address range. The issue here is related to the DHCP server, not static configuration.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. A duplicate IP address would not result in a 169.254.x.x address. Instead, it would cause connectivity issues or an IP conflict error message.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. A DNS issue would not result in an APIPA address. DNS problems affect domain name resolution, not IP address assignment.