Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What commands verify that a Cisco IOS DHCPv4 (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol v4) server is working correctly?
Use show running-config | section dhcp, show ip dhcp binding, and show ip dhcp server statistics.
| Command | What It Shows |
|---|---|
show running-config | section dhcp |
All DHCP configuration (pools, excluded addresses, parameters) |
show ip dhcp binding |
List of all IP (Internet Protocol)-to-MAC (Media Access Control) address leases currently active |
show ip dhcp server statistics |
Message counters (how many Discovers, Offers, Requests, ACKs) |
Reading show ip dhcp binding:
IP address Client-ID/ Lease expiration Type State
Hardware address
192.168.10.10 0100.5056.b3ed.d8 Sep 15 2019 8:42AM Auto Active
Shows the leased IP, the client's MAC address, when the lease expires, and whether it's active.
Reading show ip dhcp server statistics:
- Check DHCPDISCOVER count — are clients finding the server?
- Compare DISCOVER vs. ACK counts — if discovers >> ACKs, something is wrong
- Look for Relay bindings if using DHCP relay
Client-side verification: On a Windows PC, run ipconfig /all to confirm the received IP, subnet mask, default gateway, DNS (Domain Name System), and domain name.
Go deeper:
DHCP message types (Wikipedia) — the DISCOVER/OFFER/REQUEST/ACK counters and IP-to-MAC bindings the show commands report.