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Question

Difficulty: MediumWired and Wireless Network Issues

A network technician is troubleshooting a workstation in an enterprise office that cannot connect to local network resources or the internet. The workstation's network interface card displays a solid green link light and an amber activity light. Running the `ipconfig` command on the workstation displays an IPv4 address of 169.254.44.102 and a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0, but no default gateway. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

  1. The workstation is unable to communicate with a DHCP server to obtain an IP address assignment.Answer
  2. B
    The Ethernet cable connecting the workstation to the wall jack is damaged or disconnected.
  3. C
    The local DNS server is offline and unable to resolve hostnames to IP addresses.
  4. D
    The access switch port is configured as an unmanaged Layer 2 switch that cannot route traffic.

Answer

The workstation is unable to communicate with a DHCP server to obtain an IP address assignment.
When a device configured for dynamic IP addressing cannot reach a DHCP server, Windows automatically assigns an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address in the 169.254.0.0/16 range. Since the physical link lights confirm physical connectivity, the primary root cause is DHCP unreachability or server failure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Inspect physical layer status from diagnostic lights
Solid green link light and amber activity light confirm Layer 1 hardware and cabling are functioning correctly.
Verifying physical connectivity eliminates cable or port disconnection issues.
2
Analyze command-line diagnostic output
The IP address 169.254.44.102 falls within the APIPA range (169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254).
Operating systems automatically assign an APIPA address when configured for dynamic addressing but unable to contact a DHCP server.
3
Identify root cause based on APIPA assignment
DHCP server reachability failure or service outage.
Without DHCP response, the host defaults to APIPA, allowing local link-local communication but preventing access to external subnets or internet resources.

Key Concept

APIPA Address Interpretation and DHCP Failure Troubleshooting
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Wired and Wireless Network Issues

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