What is the correct transport layer protocol for a DHCP server?

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) primarily uses the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) for its transport layer communication. This choice is significant because DHCP is designed to operate efficiently in a client-server model, where rapid communication is essential, especially during the address assignment process.

UDP is a connectionless protocol that allows for quick transmission of messages without the overhead of establishing a connection, which is suitable for DHCP because the primary task involves sending requests and responses quickly to configure network settings, such as IP addresses, without the need for guaranteed delivery or connection management that a protocol like TCP requires.

By using UDP, DHCP can effectively broadcast messages to reach clients that are on the network but may not yet have IP addresses assigned. This capability enables the bootstrapping of devices in a network, making it crucial for the initial phases of network configuration.

The other protocols mentioned, such as TCP, IPX, and SCTP, do not serve this purpose within the context of DHCP. TCP, for example, is connection-oriented and would introduce significant delays due to its session establishment process, making it less suited for the quick exchanges necessary for DHCP. IPX is an obsolete protocol primarily associated with Novell networks, and SCTP, while capable of supporting multiple streams,