Which of the following features of Windows allows a device to have a default IP address if a DHCP server is not available?

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a client/server protocol that automatically provides an Internet Protocol (IP) host with its IP address and other related configuration information such as the subnet mask and default gateway.

Computers use the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol to request Internet Protocol parameters, such as an IP address, from a network server. The protocol operates based on the client–server model. As of 2011, modern networks ranging in size from home networks to large campus networks and regional Internet service provider networks commonly use DHCP.[1] Most residential network routers receive a globally unique IP address within the provider network. Within a local network, DHCP assigns a local IP address to each device connected to the local network.

When a computer or other networked device connects to a network, the DHCP client software sends a broadcast query requesting necessary information. Any DHCP server on the network may service the request. The DHCP server manages a pool of IP addresses and information about client configuration parameters such as default gateway, domain name, the name servers, and time servers. On receiving a request, the server may respond with specific information for each client, as previously configured by an administrator, or with a specific address and any other information valid for the entire network and for the time period for which the allocation (lease) is valid. A client typically queries for this information immediately after booting, and periodically thereafter before the expiration of the information.