What does the scope in a DHCP configuration define?

In a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) configuration, the scope defines the range of IP addresses that the DHCP server is authorized to lease to clients on the network. This range allows the server to allocate specific IP addresses dynamically to devices that request them, ensuring that no two devices are assigned the same IP address simultaneously, which is crucial for preventing network conflicts.

The scope can also include additional configuration settings, such as the subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server addresses, which help the clients to properly connect to and communicate over the network. Defining an appropriate scope is essential for efficient network management and ensures that devices can reliably obtain the necessary network configuration when they connect.

In terms of the other options: while the client's MAC address is used for filtering and managing leases, it does not define the DHCP scope. Similarly, the number of available leases is a factor of how many addresses are in the defined scope, but it does not itself constitute the scope. Network speed is unrelated to DHCP configuration and pertains more to the physical network infrastructure rather than IP address management.