What is the purpose of IP Helper in a network?

IP Helper serves a critical function in network management by enabling the forwarding of broadcast and multicast packets across different subnets. In networks, broadcasts and multicasts are used for various essential services, including DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and certain types of multicast traffic. However, routers typically do not forward broadcast packets between subnets due to the way IP networking is structured; broadcasts are intended for a specific local network segment.

By utilizing IP Helper, a router can be configured to receive these broadcast requests and forward them to specific destinations, facilitating communication and resource access across different subnets. This capability is particularly vital for scenarios like DHCP, where client devices need to locate a DHCP server that may reside in a different subnet to acquire IP addresses and configuration information.

In contrast, other options do not accurately represent the role of IP Helper in networking. For instance, encrypting data packets pertains more specifically to security protocols rather than routing features like IP Helper. Enhancing user authentication is typically achieved through various authentication protocols, not IP Helper. Monitoring network traffic involves tools and protocols designed for network analysis rather than the forwarding functionality of IP Helper. Thus, the primary purpose of IP Helper is indeed to enable the forwarding of broadcast and multicast packets across network boundaries.