Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

Which protocol is commonly used for dynamic IP address allocation?

1. RIP

2. OSPF

3. DHCP

4. ICMP

The correct answer is: DHCP

The correct choice is indeed DHCP, which stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. This protocol plays a crucial role in managing IP address allocation within a network. DHCP allows devices to automatically receive an IP address and other necessary network configuration parameters, such as subnet mask and default gateway, from a DHCP server. This eliminates the need for network administrators to manually assign IP addresses for each device, simplifying network management, especially in larger environments where devices frequently join and leave the network. In contrast, RIP (Routing Information Protocol) and OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) are routing protocols that manage how data is routed within and between networks but do not handle IP address allocation. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is used primarily for network diagnostics and error messaging, such as the "ping" command, rather than for address assignments. Thus, DHCP is the only protocol in this list dedicated to the dynamic allocation of IP addresses.