Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The command to initiate the DHCP configuration process is to define a DHCP pool, which is accomplished with the command that specifies the pool name. When you start configuring DHCP on a Cisco router, this is the very first step; it tells the router to create a pool of IP addresses that will be available for client devices on the network. This command essentially lays the groundwork for all subsequent DHCP configurations, such as defining the range of IP addresses, lease times, and additional options.

The other choices pertain to different configuration contexts and are not relevant to starting the DHCP process. For example, configuring an interface is important for interface settings but not for setting up DHCP. Similarly, the command related to RIP (Routing Information Protocol) is focused on routing rather than DHCP configuration. Therefore, defining the DHCP pool is the necessary first step to establish DHCP services within a network setup.