The answer is to verify that the customer gateway device is configured with the correct IP address. This is the first thing to check when troubleshooting AWS VPN static routing because the tunnel endpoint on the AWS side must match the public IP address of the on-premises router exactly; a mismatch will prevent the IPsec tunnel from establishing, even if the on-premises network is otherwise healthy. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that static VPNs rely solely on route tables and tunnel configuration, not BGP, so common traps include wasting time checking BGP status or route propagation when the core issue is a simple IP mismatch. A helpful memory tip is "Static means check the address first" — since there is no dynamic routing to fix the connection, the tunnel’s endpoint IP must be spot-on for the VPN to come up.
SOA-C02 Networking and Content Delivery Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. 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 SysOps administrator receives an alert that a VPN connection between a VPC and an on-premises network is down. The VPN uses static routing. After verifying the on-premises side is functioning, what should the administrator check in AWS?
Why wrong: Virtual private gateways are managed; rebooting is not possible.
C
Ensure the route table has a route to the virtual private gateway.
Why wrong: Route tables are for subnets; the VPC route table must have routes pointing to the virtual private gateway for traffic to flow, but if the tunnel is down, routes don't matter.
D
Verify that the customer gateway device is configured with the correct IP address.
Correct. The customer gateway IP is critical for the VPN tunnel.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Verify that the customer gateway device is configured with the correct IP address.
For static VPNs, the tunnel status and BGP (if dynamic) are irrelevant. The VPN connection's tunnel details and route propagation need to be checked. The most common issue is that the tunnel is down due to misconfiguration or network issues.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Virtual private gateways are managed; rebooting is not possible.
✗
Ensure the route table has a route to the virtual private gateway.
Why it's wrong here
Route tables are for subnets; the VPC route table must have routes pointing to the virtual private gateway for traffic to flow, but if the tunnel is down, routes don't matter.
✓
Verify that the customer gateway device is configured with the correct IP address.
Why this is correct
Correct. The customer gateway IP is critical for the VPN tunnel.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Identify which SOA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Verify that the customer gateway device is configured with the correct IP address. — For static VPNs, the tunnel status and BGP (if dynamic) are irrelevant. The VPN connection's tunnel details and route propagation need to be checked. The most common issue is that the tunnel is down due to misconfiguration or network issues.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SOA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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