Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A host address is 10.55.8.117/29. Which address is the network address of the subnet?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
10.55.8.112
This is correct because .117 belongs to the 112-119 /29 block.
B
Distractor review
10.55.8.119
This is wrong because .119 is the broadcast address of the subnet.
C
Distractor review
10.55.8.120
This is wrong because .120 begins the next /29 block.
D
Distractor review
10.55.8.116
This is wrong because .116 is a usable host in the subnet, not the network address.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is mistaking the broadcast address or a usable host address for the network address. Candidates often see the host IP 10.55.8.117 and incorrectly select 10.55.8.116 or 10.55.8.119 as the network address. However, 10.55.8.119 is the broadcast address for the /29 subnet, and 10.55.8.116 is a valid host IP within the subnet. The network address is always the first IP in the subnet block, which requires calculating the block size and aligning the host IP to the correct subnet boundary. Misidentifying these addresses leads to incorrect subnetting and routing decisions.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting is a fundamental concept in IP networking that divides a larger network into smaller, manageable subnetworks. Each subnet has a network address, a range of usable host addresses, and a broadcast address. The subnet mask determines the size of each subnet and the number of hosts it can support. In this question, the /29 prefix indicates a subnet mask of 255.255.255.248, which means each subnet contains 8 IP addresses (2^3 = 8), including the network and broadcast addresses. To find the network address for a given host IP and subnet mask, you calculate the block size based on the subnet mask and then identify the range in which the host IP falls. For a /29 subnet, the block size is 8. The host IP 10.55.8.117 falls within the block starting at 10.55.8.112 and ending at 10.55.8.119. The first address in this block, 10.55.8.112, is the network address, and the last address, 10.55.8.119, is the broadcast address. A common exam trap is confusing the network address with usable host addresses or the broadcast address. For example, 10.55.8.116 is a usable host address, not the network address, and 10.55.8.119 is the broadcast address, not a network address. Understanding the block size and correctly identifying the subnet boundaries is critical in Cisco CCNA subnetting questions and practical networking scenarios.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A /29 subnet mask corresponds to 255.255.255.248, which creates subnets with 8 IP addresses each, including network and broadcast addresses.
- The network address is the first IP address in the subnet block and identifies the subnet itself, not a usable host.
- The broadcast address is the last IP address in the subnet block and is used to send packets to all hosts within that subnet.
- To find the network address, calculate the block size from the subnet mask and align the host IP to the nearest lower multiple of the block size.
- Usable host addresses are all IPs between the network address and the broadcast address, excluding both.
- Misidentifying the broadcast or a usable host address as the network address is a common subnetting exam trap.
- Cisco devices use the network address to route traffic correctly and to define subnet boundaries in routing tables.
- Understanding subnet boundaries and block sizes is essential for configuring IP addressing and troubleshooting network connectivity.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
Related practice questions
Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
A /29 subnet mask corresponds to 255.255.255.248, which creates subnets with 8 IP addresses each, including network and broadcast addresses.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 10.55.8.112 — A /29 subnet has a block size of 8. In practical terms, the relevant last-octet blocks are 112-119 for this host. That means the network address is 10.55.8.112. Once you identify the correct block, the first address in the block is the network address. This is a useful addressing-boundary question because it checks careful block calculation, not memorized guesses.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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