Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A host address is 192.168.14.222/28. Which address is the broadcast address of its 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
Distractor review
192.168.14.207
This is wrong because .207 is the broadcast of the previous /28 block.
B
Best answer
192.168.14.223
This is correct because .222 belongs to the 208-223 /28 subnet.
C
Distractor review
192.168.14.208
This is wrong because .208 is the network address of the block.
D
Distractor review
192.168.14.224
This is wrong because .224 starts the next /28 subnet.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting the broadcast address from the wrong subnet block. For example, choosing 192.168.14.207 as the broadcast address is tempting because it is close to the given IP, but it actually belongs to the previous /28 subnet (192.168.14.192/28). This mistake happens when candidates fail to calculate the correct subnet block based on the block size of 16. Misidentifying the subnet block leads to incorrect broadcast address selection, which can cause confusion in routing and addressing questions. Always verify the IP’s subnet range before choosing the broadcast address.
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. A /28 subnet mask corresponds to 255.255.255.240, which means the last octet has 4 bits for host addressing, allowing 16 IP addresses per subnet. These 16 addresses include one network address, 14 usable host addresses, and one broadcast address. The block size of 16 is derived from 256 minus the subnet mask's last octet value (240), which defines the range of IP addresses within each subnet. To determine the broadcast address for a given IP with a /28 mask, you first identify the subnet block it belongs to by calculating multiples of 16 in the last octet. For 192.168.14.222, the subnet block is 208 to 223 because 222 falls within this range. The broadcast address is always the highest address in the subnet block, which is 192.168.14.223 in this case. This process ensures correct identification of network boundaries and broadcast addresses, which is critical for proper IP routing and communication. A common exam trap is confusing the broadcast address with the network address or the broadcast address of an adjacent subnet. For example, 192.168.14.207 is the broadcast for the previous subnet block (192.168.14.192/28), not the one containing 192.168.14.222. Understanding the block size and correctly calculating subnet boundaries prevents this mistake. In practical networking, accurate broadcast address identification ensures that broadcast traffic is correctly contained within its subnet, avoiding unnecessary network congestion and routing errors.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A /28 subnet mask creates subnets with 16 IP addresses, including network, broadcast, and usable host addresses.
- The block size for a /28 subnet is 16, which determines the range of IP addresses in each subnet.
- The broadcast address is the highest IP address in the subnet block and is used to send traffic to all hosts within that subnet.
- To find the subnet block for an IP address, calculate multiples of the block size in the last octet and identify which range the IP falls into.
- The network address is the lowest IP in the subnet block and identifies the subnet itself, not a host.
- Incorrectly selecting a broadcast address from an adjacent subnet is a common mistake in subnetting questions.
- Cisco devices use subnet masks to determine network boundaries and correctly route broadcast traffic within subnets.
- Understanding subnet boundaries and broadcast addresses is essential for designing efficient and scalable IP networks.
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.
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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 /28 subnet mask creates subnets with 16 IP addresses, including network, broadcast, and usable host addresses.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 192.168.14.223 — A /28 subnet has a block size of 16. In practical terms, the fourth-octet blocks are 0-15, 16-31, and so on. Because 222 falls within the 208-223 block, the broadcast address is the last address in that block: 192.168.14.223. This is a subnet-boundary question that depends on identifying the correct /28 block before choosing the broadcast address.
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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