The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network management protocol used on IP networks for automatically assigning IP addresses and other communication parameters to devices. Its fundamental role (A) is to provide a client with a unique IP address, subnet mask, and a lease for that address. Additionally, DHCP is designed to deliver other critical configuration options, including the IP address of the default gateway (B), which enables the host to communicate with devices outside its local subnet. It also commonly provides DNS server addresses.

C. Hop count information is a function of routing protocols like RIP or diagnostic tools such as traceroute, not the DHCP configuration protocol.

D. Network authorization is handled by dedicated security protocols like RADIUS, TACACS+, or IEEE 802.1X, which control access, not by DHCP.

1. IETF RFC 2131

"Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol": The abstract and introduction (Section 1) state that DHCP's purpose is to provide a framework for passing configuration information

including the automatic allocation of network addresses

to hosts on a TCP/IP network. This directly supports option A.

2. IETF RFC 2132

"DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor Extensions": Section 3.3

"Router Option

" explicitly defines an option (Code 3) for DHCP to provide a list of IP addresses for routers on the client's subnet. The first address is typically used as the default gateway

supporting option B.

3. MIT OpenCourseWare

6.033 Computer System Engineering

Spring 2018

Lecture 11 Notes: The section on "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)" states

"DHCP can also tell the client the IP address of the local DNS resolver

the default gateway

etc." This confirms that providing the default gateway is a standard role of DHCP.