What are the three essential components required when statically assigning an IP address?

The three essential components required when statically assigning an IP address are the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.

When configuring a device with a static IP address, the IP address uniquely identifies the device on the network. The subnet mask defines the range of IP addresses that are considered to be within the same local network, allowing for proper communication with other devices. The default gateway is the IP address of the router or device responsible for forwarding traffic from the local network to other networks, such as the internet. Together, these three components ensure that the device can communicate effectively within its network and reach external networks as needed.

The other options include components that are important in networking but do not all align with the requirements for static IP address assignment. For example, host names and DNS servers are significant for resolving website addresses and network identities but are not strictly necessary for basic static IP configuration. Additionally, a DHCP server is used for dynamic IP address assignment rather than static configuration, which makes it irrelevant in this context.