What would happen if a DHCP server fails to respond to a DHCPDISCOVER message?

If a DHCP server fails to respond to a DHCPDISCOVER message, the client will indeed remain unable to connect to the network. The DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) process relies on the client sending a broadcast message (DHCPDISCOVER) to locate a DHCP server and request an IP address. If no DHCP server responds to this request, the client will not receive an IP address, which is crucial for connecting to the network. Without a valid IP address, the client cannot participate in network communications, which results in an inability to connect to the network.

Although clients may attempt to send DHCPDISCOVER messages multiple times in hopes of finding an available DHCP server, the fundamental issue remains that without a valid IP address assignment from a DHCP server, the client cannot establish a network connection. This emphasizes the importance of DHCP in automating IP address management on networks.