What is the most likely change needed to a SOHO router to restore internet connectivity after DHCP has assigned private IP addresses?

The most appropriate action to take when restoring internet connectivity for a Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) router after DHCP has assigned private IP addresses is to configure the SOHO router for Network Address Translation (NAT).

SOHO routers typically assign private IP addresses to devices within the local network using DHCP. However, private IP addresses cannot be routed on the internet. NAT allows the router to translate these private IP addresses into a single public IP address before packets are sent to the internet and vice versa for incoming traffic. This process is crucial for enabling devices within the local network to communicate with external servers on the internet.

By enabling NAT, the router can effectively manage the traffic between the local network and the internet, allowing users to access websites and online services. Without NAT, devices assigned private IP addresses would remain unable to communicate with the broader internet, which would explain the loss of connectivity in this scenario.

The other options do not directly address the issue at hand. Disabling the firewall may expose the network to security risks and does not resolve the connectivity problem caused by having private IP addresses. Changing the DHCP range would not necessarily help if the issue is related to NAT, and upgrading the firmware could be beneficial for performance or security but is unlikely to resolve immediate