DHCP Reservation for Printers That Need Unchanged IPs

N10-009 By islever Editorial Last updated

Given a scenario, use appropriate IP v4 network addressing. Given a scenario, implement IP v4 and IP v6 network services.

Short answer

C Use a DHCP reservation so the new printers receive IP addresses automatically while keeping the same address for browser-based management.

Question

A company installs new printers and prefers that IP addresses be automatically assigned. The help desk uses addresses to manage the printers via a browser, so the addresses must remain unchanged. Which of the following is the best IP address option for the printers?
  1. Extended lease time
  2. Static addresses
  3. DHCP reservation Correct Answer
  4. Relay

Key Takeaways

This question tests the distinction between automatic DHCP assignment and a guaranteed stable IP, with extended lease time as the main distractor.

DHCP reservation combines automatic address assignment with a persistent MAC-to-IP mapping, so the new printers keep stable addresses for browser management. The best option is C.

Common mistake: Selecting A because an extended lease appears to make the address permanent is wrong: the address is still leased and can change after expiry, release, or pool changes, while a DHCP reservation pins the printer to a specific IP.

Expert Analysis

Two constraints, one answer The scenario combines two requirements that are easy to misread as competing: the printers should receive addresses automatically, and the help desk needs those addresses to stay unchanged for browser-based management. Static addressing meets only the second requirement because someone must configure each printer manually. Ordinary DHCP meets only the first because a lease is temporary and can change after expiry, release, server migration, or pool edits.

How a DHCP reservation satisfies both A DHCP reservation binds a specific IPv4 address to a printer's MAC address in the DHCP server configuration. The printer still requests an address through DHCP, so deployment remains automatic, but the server consistently returns the reserved address. That gives the help desk a predictable URL target without touching each printer's network settings. This is the documented role of reservations for devices that need stable addressing while remaining DHCP clients, and it is why option C is correct.

Why the other options fail Option A, an extended lease time, sounds close because it keeps the same address for longer, but it is still a lease; expiration, release, or a changed scope can break the assumption. Option B, static addresses, does guarantee stability, but it conflicts with the preference for automatic assignment and increases manual administration. Option D, a relay, only forwards DHCP traffic between subnets when the server is remote; it has no role in fixing the printer's address. The community reasoning captures the same distinction: DHCP can both assign addresses and reserve them for specific devices.

The governing principle The exam is testing the separation between how an address is delivered and how stable it is. DHCP reservation intentionally combines automatic configuration with a fixed MAC-to-IP binding. For printers, servers, and other managed endpoints that should not be manually configured, reserve the address and keep it outside the dynamic pool.

Official Reference

These links open the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Look for a requirement pair: automatic assignment plus a stable address. That pairing points to DHCP reservation, not static configuration (manual) or a long lease (temporary). In scenario questions, translate each option into whether it satisfies both constraints. If a device is managed by IP but must not be manually configured, reserve the address by MAC and keep it outside the dynamic pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't a static IP address the best choice for the printers?

Static addresses stay unchanged but require manual configuration on each printer, failing the requirement for automatic assignment; a DHCP reservation provides the same stability automatically.

Does an extended DHCP lease time guarantee the printers keep the same IP?

No. A lease is temporary and can change after expiry, release, or server/pool changes; only a reservation ties a specific address to the printer's MAC.

What does a DHCP relay do in this printer scenario?

It forwards DHCP messages between subnets when the server is remote; it does not reserve or permanently fix an address for a printer.

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Discussion 1 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 1

  1. 7435a8a 👍 1 Answered C
    DHCP makes sense. It assigns IPs, but it can also reserve IPs for devices.

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