Which service allocates IP addresses to workstations?

• A. DHCP
• B. DNS
• C. WINS
• D. File Servers

Answer: (A)

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol automates how devices get their network settings. When a workstation connects, DHCP hands it an IP address from a pool, along with other details like the subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server. The address is leased for a time, preventing duplicates because the server tracks which addresses are in use. If the device disconnects or the lease expires, the IP goes back into the pool for others to use. This is why DHCP is the service that allocates IP addresses.

DNS, by contrast, translates human-friendly names into IP addresses but does not assign addresses itself. WINS handles NetBIOS name resolution in older Windows networks, not address assignment. File servers provide storage and sharing services, not IP address configuration.