Setting the Default Gateway in a DHCP Pool

200-301 By islever Editorial Last updated

Configure and verify DHCP client and relay

Short answer

C Inside the NOCC pool, 'default-router 192.168.20.253' sets the next-to-last usable IP (.253) as the gateway offered to clients.

Question

A DHCP pool has been created with the name NOCC. The pool is using 192.168.20.0/24 and must use the next to last usable IP address as the default gateway for the DHCP clients. What is the next step in the process?
  1. next-server 192.168.20.254
  2. network 192.168.20.254 255.255.255.0 secondary
  3. default-router 192.168.20.253 Correct Answer
  4. ip default-gateway 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.20.253

Key Takeaways

default-router (not ip default-gateway or next-server) is the DHCP pool command for the client gateway; next-to-last usable of /24 = .253.

For 192.168.20.0/24 the last usable host is .254 and the next-to-last is .253. The DHCP pool command that pushes the default gateway to clients is 'default-router <ip>'. 'next-server' sets the TFTP boot server, not the gateway.

Common mistake: Using next-server (TFTP) or the IOS 'ip default-gateway' (for the router itself, not DHCP clients). The usable-range math also trips people: next-to-last = .253, not .254.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

C is correct. Within the DHCP pool, 'default-router 192.168.20.253' is the command that assigns the client default gateway. For the 192.168.20.0/24 subnet,.254 is the last usable and.253 is the next-to-last usable host, matching the requirement.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A (next-server) sets the TFTP boot server, not the gateway. B (network... secondary) defines the subnet scope, not the gateway. D (ip default-gateway) configures the router's own gateway, not the address offered to DHCP clients.

Community Comment Notes

The vote is C (100). Commenters compute the range (broadcast.255, last usable.254, next-to-last.253) and note 'default-router' is the correct DHCP command.

Official Reference

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/ccna-exam-topics

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Community Votes

C
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer C. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 5 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 5

  1. ladarius01 👍 4
    192.168.20.0/24 broadcast = 192.168.20.255 last usable IP = 192.168.20.254 next to last usable IP = 192.168.20.253 command for default gateway = default-router
  2. Rolfer 👍 3 Answered C
    In this case only "default-router" command is correct, so dont waste ur time in the exam and go to the next question.
  3. ricky1802 👍 1 Answered C
    ip dhcp pool NOCC network 192.168.20.0 255.255.255.0 default-router 192.168.20.253
  4. bezkin 👍 1 Answered C
    default-router adds the default gateway to dhcp leases sent to clients
  5. [Removed] 👍 1 Answered C
    C is correct the next to last usable IP address is192.168.20.253

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