What is the point of IP ranges if they don't also have a related IP address?

[Mailstorm-ctrl]

For example, let's say we have a DHCP range 10.10.100.10/24 to 10.10.100.100/24.

If we make an IP range of that and mark it as:

• Reserved
• Fully utilized

How come I can make a single IP in that range that can have a different status? If I was dynamically making hosts (that have static addresses) and the next available IP reported as available was 10.10.100.11, we'd have a problem. The host is going to have that IP statically assigned but unless you are specifically looking at ranges, you wouldn't know that IP is in the DHCP scope defined with an IP range.

Now yes, the DHCP server should first see if any device on the network has that IP assigned already and not give it, but that's not the point. The point is what you have documented/want to happen isn't enforced.

I'd expect if I made a range like above with those conditions (or similar), then those IPs in that range should also be made so they aren't "available".

Maybe I'm overthinking this but IP ranges in their current state don't make sense to me.