DHCP Discover is ...?

• A. A server offering an IP address.
• B. A client accepting the offer.
• C. A client requesting an IP address.
• D. A server confirming assignment.

Answer: (C)

DHCP Discover is the client's initial step to obtain network configuration. The client broadcasts this message to locate any DHCP servers on the network and signal its intent to get an IP address and other settings, even though it doesn’t yet have one. The most fitting description among the options is that the client is requesting an IP address, since Discover starts the process of obtaining a lease. The other moments—servers offering an IP, the client accepting an offer, and the server confirming the assignment—belong to the later stages (DHCPOFFER, DHCPREQUEST, and DHCPACK, respectively) after the Discover has initiated the exchange.