Which sequence describes the DHCP process for IPv4 addressing (DORA)?

• A. Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge.
• B. Offer, Discover, Acknowledge, Request.
• C. Discover, Request, Offer, Acknowledge.
• D. Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge.

Answer: (D)

The sequence tested is about how a client obtains an IPv4 address from a DHCP server, which happens in four steps. First, the client sends a broadcast to discover any available DHCP servers (DHCPDISCOVER). Servers that hear this respond with an offered configuration (DHCPOFFER), proposing IP address, subnet mask, gateway, DNS, and lease time. The client then picks an offer (often from the first responder) and asks for that specific configuration to be used (DHCPREQUEST). Finally, the server confirms the lease and parameters being assigned (DHCPACK). This order—Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge—is essential because the client must first solicit help, then choose and request, before the server can finalize the assignment.

If you tried to reply with a sequence that offers before discovery, or acknowledges before a request has been made, it wouldn’t represent how DHCP negotiates and finalizes an address, which is why that particular order is not correct.