Which of the following is a valid APIPA address?
When it comes to local area networks (LANs), Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) plays a crucial role in ensuring devices can communicate without requiring a DHCP server. APIPA addresses are automatically assigned to devices when a DHCP server is unavailable. In this article, we will explore the concept of APIPA addresses and determine which of the following examples is a valid APIPA address.
The concept of APIPA addresses
APIPA addresses are a range of private IP addresses that are automatically assigned to devices on a network when a DHCP server is not available. These addresses are part of the IPv4 address space and are designed to be used within a local network. The APIPA address range is defined as 169.254.0.0 to 169.254.255.255.
Valid APIPA address format
A valid APIPA address must adhere to the following format:
– The first three octets are always 169.254.
– The last octet can range from 0 to 255.
Now, let’s determine which of the following examples is a valid APIPA address:
1. 169.254.100.200
2. 192.168.1.1
3. 10.0.0.1
4. 169.254.256.100
The correct answer is:
1. 169.254.100.200
Explanation:
– The first three octets (169.254) are within the APIPA address range.
– The last octet (100) is within the valid range of 0 to 255.
The other examples provided are not valid APIPA addresses because:
– 192.168.1.1 is a common private IP address range used by many home and small office networks.
– 10.0.0.1 is another common private IP address range used by many home and small office networks.
– 169.254.256.100 is not a valid APIPA address because the last octet exceeds the maximum value of 255.
In conclusion, understanding the concept of APIPA addresses and their valid format is essential for troubleshooting network connectivity issues when a DHCP server is unavailable. By identifying a valid APIPA address, network administrators can ensure that devices can still communicate within the local network.
