A laptop user travelling on business plugs into the hotel's network connection. Her Windows computer shows she is connected, but she cannot get access to the Internet. The user checks her IP address and notices that it is 169.254. 235.52. The user's laptop network connection worked fine only a few hours previous at the airport. What is most likely the issue?
A)The hotel's DHCP server is not functioning correctly.
B)The laptop's NIC is broken.
C)The NIC's drivers need to be reinstalled.
D)The Ethernet cable needs to be replaced.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the user is receiving an IP address of 169.254.235.52 and had a functioning network connection only a few hours beforehand, it is likely that the hotel's DHCP server is not functioning correctly.
Key Takeaway: The IP Address 169.254.235.52 is an APIPA address, which means that the computer has self-assigned that address to itself because it has not been assigned one by a DHCP server. Since the laptop worked correctly only a few hours beforehand, we can (generally speaking) rule out driver or hardware difficulties. Although the Ethernet cable could need to be replaced, it is more likely in this case that the DHCP server is not functioning correctly.

A Laptop User Travelling on Business Plugs into the Hotel's