To ensure a network device like a printer is consistently accessible, it should have a predictable IP address. Assigning a static IP address to the printer prevents its address from changing. Laptops, being transient devices, can use dynamic IP addresses assigned by a DHCP server without issue. This configuration ensures that print jobs and network scans are always sent to the correct, unchanging address, making the printer reliably available on the local network.

B. Public IPs are for internet-facing devices, not for internal SOHO clients. This configuration is incorrect and would not work.

C. APIPA is a fallback for when a DHCP server is unreachable; it is not a configurable setting for a functional network.

D. Using dynamic IP addressing for the printer means its address could change, causing connection failures for the laptops until reconfigured.

1. Kurose, J. F., & Ross, K. W. (2021). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (8th ed.). Pearson. In Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2, the text explains the role of DHCP for dynamic host configuration and notes that some network devices, such as servers and printers, are often configured with static IP addresses for stable access.

2. Cisco. (2018). Basic Router Configuration. Cisco Networking Academy, IT Essentials v7.0. Chapter 10.3.2, "Configure a SOHO Wireless Router," outlines the best practice of using DHCP for client devices and reserving addresses or setting static IPs for shared resources like printers.