As a network administrator, you want IP addresses to be assigned automatically to hosts on your network. Which protocol is typically used to make IP address assignment easy and centralized?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of basic network infrastructure protocols, specifically which one is responsible for automatically assigning IP configuration details to client devices. Automating IP address assignment makes network administration simpler and reduces configuration errors on large networks.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- There are multiple hosts (such as PCs, laptops, phones) that need IP addresses on a network.
- The administrator wants an easy, centralized way to assign IP addresses and related settings rather than configuring each host manually.
- Several well-known network protocols are listed as options, including DNS, DHCP, HSRP, and NTP.

Concept / Approach:
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is designed to automatically assign IP configuration parameters to client devices. These parameters typically include the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and one or more DNS server addresses. Clients send DHCPDISCOVER messages on the network to locate a DHCP server, which then offers configuration information. When hosts are configured to obtain an address automatically, DHCP significantly reduces manual work and misconfigurations.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that DHCP is the protocol specifically created to dynamically provide IP configuration to hosts.Step 2: Understand that DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses, but does not assign addresses to clients.Step 3: Recognize that HSRP is a Cisco redundancy protocol used to provide highly available default gateways, not endpoint addressing.Step 4: Note that NTP synchronizes time between devices and has nothing to do with address assignment.Step 5: Choose DHCP as the protocol that makes assigning IP addresses to hosts easy and centralized.

Verification / Alternative check:
In practice, if clients are configured with “Obtain an IP address automatically,” they send DHCP requests on startup. If a DHCP server is reachable, they receive an IP configuration lease. You can verify this on a host by using ipconfig /all on Windows or ip addr show on Linux to see that the address came from DHCP. Disabling the DHCP server and observing that clients no longer receive addresses further confirms the dependency.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
DNS is critical for name resolution, but it does not assign addresses to devices. HSRP only provides a virtual IP for gateway redundancy between routers; it does not allocate client IPs. NTP is about time synchronization, and TFTP is used for simple file transfers, such as copying IOS images, not for address assignment. Only DHCP is designed for automatic host IP configuration.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners conflate DNS and DHCP because both are often provided by the same server (such as a Windows domain controller or a firewall appliance). Another pitfall is thinking HSRP assigns IP addresses because it is associated with a default gateway IP. Remember: DHCP hands out addresses and configuration to clients; DNS resolves names; HSRP keeps the default gateway highly available; NTP synchronizes clocks.

Final Answer:
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the protocol used to automatically and centrally assign IP addresses and related configuration to hosts.