- A
The Direct Connect virtual interface is configured for public VIF instead of private VIF.
Why wrong: A public VIF would not allow private IP communication.
- B
The EC2 instances' security group outbound rules are blocking ICMP.
Why wrong: If blocked, the ping would fail, but the question states on-premises can ping EC2, so ICMP is allowed inbound.
- C
The VPC route table has a more specific local route (10.0.0.0/16) that overrides the route to the VGW for part of the on-premises CIDR.
Because the VPC uses 10.0.0.0/16, any on-premises IP within that range is considered local and not forwarded to the VGW.
- D
The on-premises router is not advertising the 10.0.0.0/8 route to AWS.
Why wrong: The engineer stated BGP is advertising 10.0.0.0/8, and on-premises can ping EC2, so route exists.
ANS-C01 Network Management and Operations Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network management and operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company has a Direct Connect connection with a private VIF to a VPC. The on-premises network uses BGP to advertise the 10.0.0.0/8 prefix to AWS. The VPC has a route table that includes a route to the Virtual Private Gateway for 10.0.0.0/8. On-premises hosts can ping EC2 instances in the VPC, but EC2 instances cannot ping on-premises hosts. The VPC has an Internet Gateway and a NAT Gateway. The EC2 instances are in private subnets with routes to the NAT Gateway for 0.0.0.0/0. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The VPC route table has a more specific local route (10.0.0.0/16) that overrides the route to the VGW for part of the on-premises CIDR.
For EC2 instances to reach on-premises hosts, the VPC route table must have a route for the on-premises CIDR pointing to the Virtual Private Gateway. The engineer has that route. However, the on-premises hosts are in the 10.0.0.0/8 range, and the VPC also uses 10.0.0.0/16. The issue is that the VPC route table has a local route for 10.0.0.0/16, which is more specific than the 10.0.0.0/8 route to the VGW. Traffic from EC2 to on-premises hosts within the 10.0.0.0/16 range will be routed locally within the VPC, not through the VGW. The on-premises hosts must be in a different CIDR than the VPC's CIDR, or the VPC must use a different CIDR. Since the VPC uses 10.0.0.0/16, any on-premises host with an IP in that range will be considered local and won't go through the VGW. The solution is to ensure the VPC CIDR does not overlap with the on-premises CIDR.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The Direct Connect virtual interface is configured for public VIF instead of private VIF.
Why it's wrong here
A public VIF would not allow private IP communication.
- ✗
The EC2 instances' security group outbound rules are blocking ICMP.
Why it's wrong here
If blocked, the ping would fail, but the question states on-premises can ping EC2, so ICMP is allowed inbound.
- ✓
The VPC route table has a more specific local route (10.0.0.0/16) that overrides the route to the VGW for part of the on-premises CIDR.
Why this is correct
Because the VPC uses 10.0.0.0/16, any on-premises IP within that range is considered local and not forwarded to the VGW.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
The on-premises router is not advertising the 10.0.0.0/8 route to AWS.
Why it's wrong here
The engineer stated BGP is advertising 10.0.0.0/8, and on-premises can ping EC2, so route exists.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Management and Operations — This question tests Network Management and Operations — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The VPC route table has a more specific local route (10.0.0.0/16) that overrides the route to the VGW for part of the on-premises CIDR. — For EC2 instances to reach on-premises hosts, the VPC route table must have a route for the on-premises CIDR pointing to the Virtual Private Gateway. The engineer has that route. However, the on-premises hosts are in the 10.0.0.0/8 range, and the VPC also uses 10.0.0.0/16. The issue is that the VPC route table has a local route for 10.0.0.0/16, which is more specific than the 10.0.0.0/8 route to the VGW. Traffic from EC2 to on-premises hosts within the 10.0.0.0/16 range will be routed locally within the VPC, not through the VGW. The on-premises hosts must be in a different CIDR than the VPC's CIDR, or the VPC must use a different CIDR. Since the VPC uses 10.0.0.0/16, any on-premises host with an IP in that range will be considered local and won't go through the VGW. The solution is to ensure the VPC CIDR does not overlap with the on-premises CIDR.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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