DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) hands out IP addresses and settings automatically so you do not configure every host by hand. A Cisco router or multilayer switch running IOS can act as a DHCP server for small sites, and more commonly as a relay agent that forwards requests to a central server. It can also be a DHCP client itself. The CCNA expects you to configure and verify all three roles and to troubleshoot why a client did not get a lease.
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