A group of users is unable to connect to the network and have IP addresses in the 169.254.x.x range. What is the most likely cause of this problem?

When users have IP addresses in the 169.254.x.x range, it typically indicates that their devices are not able to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. This automatic assignment is part of the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) mechanism utilized by Windows and some other operating systems when they cannot contact a DHCP server. When a device is unable to receive its IP address from the DHCP server, it resorts to assigning itself a link-local address in the configured range.

In this scenario, if a group of users is unable to connect and are showing IP addresses within the 169.254.x.x range, the most logical explanation is that the DHCP server is not operational. Thus, these devices are defaulting to self-assigned addresses, which prevent them from communicating on the broader network effectively.

While other options address various potential networking issues, their connection to the situation is less direct. Static IP addresses would not result in 169.254.x.x addresses because the users would have IPs they manually assigned within the configured network range. An incorrectly set subnet mask might lead to issues with network communication, but wouldn't specifically result in self-assigned IP ranges unless combined with other configuration issues. Lastly, a disconnected network cable may prevent connectivity but