What does the acronym DHCP stand for?

• A. Domain Host Configuration Protocol
• B. Dynamic Hyper Transport Protocol
• C. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
• D. Distributed Host Configuration Protocol

Answer: (C)

DHCP automates IP configuration for devices on a network, letting hosts obtain their network settings without manual setup. The acronym stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, where Dynamic means addresses are assigned from a pool and can change over time, Host refers to the client device, Configuration covers settings like IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server, and Protocol indicates a defined method for obtaining and renewing those settings. This combination is what enables clients to join networks quickly and consistently without administrator intervention. The other options don’t fit because they either describe concepts unrelated to IP configuration (Domain in a domain context, Hyper Transport as a separate technology) or use terms that aren’t part of the standard name for this mechanism (Distributed). In practice, DHCP involves a client-server exchange to assign an IP and other options, often with lease times to refresh as needed.