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Official PYQ · 2026Set 2 · Q12Application Layer Protocols: DNS, SMTP, HTTP, FTP, EmailMCQ1 mark

GATE CS 2026 Set 2 Q12 — Application Layer Protocols: DNS, SMTP, HTTP, FTP, Email

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Which one of the following protocols may need to broadcast some of its messages?

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Answer: C

The correct option is C.

Explanation:

  • DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol): When a client first connects to a network, it does not have an IP address or the address of the DHCP server. To obtain an IP address, the client broadcasts a DHCPDISCOVER message to the destination IP address 255.255.255.255 (and MAC address FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF) so that any available DHCP server on the local network can receive it and respond. Thus, DHCP relies on broadcasting.
  • SMTP, FTP, and HTTP: These are application-layer protocols that run on top of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). Since TCP is a connection-oriented, point-to-point protocol, all communication in SMTP, FTP, and HTTP is strictly unicast.

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