Performance-based questions drop you into a simulated CLI or lab environment and ask you to complete a real configuration task. On Cisco exams this means IOS commands in a terminal with a live topology. PBQs are worth more marks and appear first in the exam — get these right.
Start Scenario PracticeYou are connected to SW1 via the console. SW1 is a Layer 2 switch. Port GigabitEthernet0/1 connects to a PC in VLAN 10, and port GigabitEthernet0/2 connects to a server in VLAN 20. Both ports are currently in VLAN 1. Configure SW1 to assign GigabitEthernet0/1 to VLAN 10 and GigabitEthernet0/2 to VLAN 20, and verify the configuration.
Explanation: Access ports carry traffic for a single VLAN. By assigning G0/1 to VLAN 10 and G0/2 to VLAN 20, the PC and server are placed in their respective VLANs.
You are connected to R1. The network administrator has partially configured IPv4 and IPv6 on the interfaces. However, PC1 (connected to R1's G0/1) cannot reach PC2 (connected to R2's G0/1). Configure R1 and R2 so that PC1 can ping PC2. Fix any addressing errors. Use IPv4 subnet 192.0.2.0/30 for the link between R1 and R2, and 198.51.100.0/24 for the PC LANs. For IPv6, use 2001:db8:1::/64 on R1's G0/1 and 2001:db8:2::/64 on R2's G0/1, with R1's G0/1 using EUI-64 and R2's G0/1 using a static address 2001:db8:2::1/64.
Explanation: The issue is a subnet mask mismatch on the link between R1 and R2: R1 uses /24 (255.255.255.0) while R2 uses /30 (255.255.255.252). This prevents R1 from having a route to R2's LAN. Fix R1's G0/0 mask to /30. Additionally, R1's G0/1 IPv6 EUI-64 command is missing the interface identifier; the correct command is 'ipv6 address 2001:db8:1::/64 eui-64' but the interface must be enabled with 'no shutdown'. Also ensure IPv6 unicast-routing is enabled. The PCs have correct gateways.
You are troubleshooting a PC (PC-A) connected to switch SW1, which is connected to router R1. PC-A has an APIPA address (169.254.23.45) and cannot reach the internet (203.0.113.1). You confirm that R1 has a correctly configured DHCP pool for the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet, but the DHCP service is not enabled. The network uses VLAN 10 with subnet 192.168.10.0/24. Verify and correct the configuration on PC-A, SW1, and R1 to restore full connectivity.
Explanation: The APIPA address (169.254.x.x) indicates that PC-A failed to obtain a DHCP lease. The correct solution is to enable the DHCP service on R1 with 'service dhcp', which is not running despite the configured pool. Option B is incorrect because setting a default gateway on PC-A with a static IP would still require a valid address in the subnet; the APIPA address cannot communicate with 192.168.10.1. Option C is wrong because the PC-A interface on SW1 is correctly assigned to VLAN 10. Option D is unnecessary since R1 is directly connected to the same subnet, so 'ip helper-address' is only used to forward DHCP broadcasts across router boundaries.
You are connected to a multilayer switch MLS1 via the console. Configure MLS1 so that IP phones connected to interface GigabitEthernet0/1 receive power via PoE, use VLAN 10 for data traffic, and use VLAN 20 for voice traffic, while the access port for an AP on GigabitEthernet0/2 should be placed in VLAN 30 and have PoE disabled. Verify your configuration using appropriate show commands.
Explanation: For the IP phone port (G0/1), you need to enable PoE (power inline auto) and configure the voice VLAN (switchport voice vlan 20) so that the phone uses VLAN 20 for voice and the access VLAN 10 for data. For the AP port (G0/2), you must change the access VLAN to 30 and disable PoE (power inline never) to prevent powering the AP through the switch. Verify with 'show interfaces switchport' to confirm voice VLAN and access VLAN settings, and 'show power inline' to check PoE status.
You are connected to R1. Configure IPv4 and IPv6 addressing on R1's interfaces and verify reachability to R2. The current configuration has a wrong subnet mask on G0/0, missing default gateway for IPv4, and R1's IPv6 address is configured using EUI-64 while R2 uses a static IPv6 address. Fix these issues so that R1 can ping both R2's IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
Explanation: The problem had three issues: (1) R1's G0/0 subnet mask was /24 (255.255.255.0) but R2's G0/0 was /30 (255.255.255.252), causing an IP subnet mismatch. (2) R1 lacked a default gateway for IPv4; the static route pointed to 192.0.2.254 which is not reachable. (3) R1's IPv6 EUI-64 configuration on G0/0 generates an interface ID from the MAC, but R2 expects a static address 2001:db8:1::2/64, so R1 must use a static IPv6 address on the same subnet. The fix: change R1's G0/0 mask to /30, add a default route via R2's G0/0 IP (192.0.2.2), and configure a static IPv6 address (e.g., 2001:db8:1::1/64) on R1's G0/0.
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Practice all Performance-Based Questions (PBQs)Performance-based questions drop you into a simulated CLI or lab environment and ask you to complete a real configuration task. On Cisco exams this means IOS commands in a terminal with a live topology. PBQs are worth more marks and appear first in the exam — get these right. These appear throughout the 200-301 and require you to apply your knowledge, not just recall facts.
Cisco doesn't publish an exact breakdown, but scenario-based questions (especially exhibit and command-output formats) make up a significant portion of the 200-301. Practicing each scenario type ensures you're ready for any format.
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