In a typical TCP/IP network, what are the primary functions of the DNS and DHCP services and how do they complement each other?

Introduction / Context:
This conceptual question checks whether you understand the distinct but complementary roles of Domain Name System and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol in an IP network. These two services are fundamental building blocks in almost every modern enterprise and home network. Misunderstanding their roles can lead to configuration errors and troubleshooting difficulties.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- We are working in a standard IPv4 or IPv6 TCP/IP environment.
- Client devices need IP addresses and other settings to communicate.
- Users prefer to connect to resources using names such as server1.example.com rather than numerical IP addresses.
- DNS and DHCP are both present somewhere in the network and may run on the same or different servers.

Concept / Approach:
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is designed to automate the process of assigning IP configuration parameters to clients. This typically includes the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server addresses, and may include many other options. Domain Name System is a distributed directory that maps human friendly hostnames to IP addresses and sometimes performs reverse lookups from IP to name. These services complement one another: DHCP tells clients which DNS servers to use, and DNS allows clients to translate names into usable IP addresses for communication.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify DHCP as the protocol that dynamically assigns IP addresses and related configuration when a device joins the network.Step 2: Recognize that DNS is used to resolve hostnames, such as www.example.com, into IP addresses so that applications can connect.Step 3: Note that DHCP usually provides the addresses of DNS servers to clients so that they know where to send queries.Step 4: Understand that DNS does not normally assign addresses and DHCP does not resolve names, so their functions are separate but coordinated.Step 5: Choose the option that clearly states DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and DHCP automatically assigns IP configuration to clients.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this understanding by thinking about a typical client configuration screen. When set to obtain an IP address automatically, the client sends DHCP messages to get an address and other parameters. One of those parameters is the DNS server address. After this step, when the user opens a browser and types a name, the client sends a DNS query to the configured DNS server, which returns an IP address. This sequence confirms the roles of DHCP and DNS.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Any option claiming that DNS assigns IP addresses reverses the roles of the protocols. DNS does not distribute addresses to clients. Options suggesting that DNS forwards packets or encrypts traffic confuse it with routing or security protocols. DHCP does not manage default gateway redundancy or user authentication by itself. Likewise, DNS does not manage MAC address tables, which are part of switching, and DHCP does not discover switch hardware.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to assume that DHCP is only about IP addresses and to forget that it also distributes DNS and default gateway information. Another pitfall is to think of DNS merely as a static hosts file substitute, ignoring the fact that it is a full hierarchical distributed database. Keeping their roles straight helps speed up troubleshooting when name resolution works by IP address but fails by hostname.

Final Answer:
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses, while DHCP automatically assigns IP configuration such as address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers to clients.