CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network services and security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: a host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet.. 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 host at 192.168.50.10/24 needs to send traffic to 192.168.60.20. Which MAC address will it normally place in the Ethernet destination field for the first frame?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The MAC address of its configured default gateway
When a host wants to send traffic to a different IP subnet, it does not send the frame directly to the remote device’s MAC address. In plain language, the host knows the destination IP is off its local network, so it hands the traffic to the local router. That means the Ethernet frame is addressed to the default gateway’s MAC address, while the IP packet inside still carries the final remote IP destination.
A host uses ARP to learn MAC addresses on its own LAN. Since the remote host is not local, the sender does not ARP for the remote host’s MAC. Instead, it ARPs for the gateway interface on the same subnet.
Key principle: A host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet.
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 MAC address of the remote host at 192.168.60.20
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the remote host is on a different IP network. ARP works on the local link, not across routers.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where both hosts are on the same subnet (e.g., 192.168.50.0/24), a question might ask what MAC address a host would use to communicate directly with another host on the same network. In that case, the MAC address of the remote host at 192.168.60.20 would be correct.
✗
The broadcast MAC address only
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because broadcast is not the normal destination MAC for the actual data frame. Only the ARP request may be broadcast.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a host is broadcasting a message to all devices on the local network segment, such as an ARP request to discover the MAC address of 192.168.60.20, the broadcast MAC address (FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF) would be the correct choice.
✓
The MAC address of its configured default gateway
Why this is correct
This is correct because the default gateway is the local next-hop device for off-subnet traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
A host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet.
✗
Its own source MAC address
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because a device’s own MAC address is used as the source MAC, not the destination MAC.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question where a host needs to send traffic to a device on the same local network, and the question specifies that the destination is reachable directly, the host would place its own MAC address in the source field while the destination MAC would be that of the intended recipient.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The MAC address of its configured default gatewayCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because the default gateway is the local next-hop device for off-subnet traffic.
✗The MAC address of the remote host at 192.168.60.20Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because the host at 192.168.50.10 cannot directly resolve the MAC address of 192.168.60.20, as they are on different subnets and require the default gateway for routing.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where both hosts are on the same subnet (e.g., 192.168.50.0/24), a question might ask what MAC address a host would use to communicate directly with another host on the same network. In that case, the MAC address of the remote host at 192.168.60.20 would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of MAC address resolution, thinking that the destination MAC address is always needed for any communication, regardless of subnetting.
✗The broadcast MAC address onlyWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because the host at 192.168.50.10 cannot directly send frames to 192.168.60.20 without knowing its MAC address, and it will first send the frame to its default gateway instead.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a host is broadcasting a message to all devices on the local network segment, such as an ARP request to discover the MAC address of 192.168.60.20, the broadcast MAC address (FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF) would be the correct choice.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might choose this option because they recall that broadcast messages are used for network discovery and may confuse it with the need to reach a host outside the local subnet.
✗Its own source MAC addressWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because the host cannot send a frame directly to the MAC address of 192.168.60.20 without first resolving it through the ARP protocol, as it is on a different subnet.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question where a host needs to send traffic to a device on the same local network, and the question specifies that the destination is reachable directly, the host would place its own MAC address in the source field while the destination MAC would be that of the intended recipient.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option because they might confuse the source MAC address with the destination MAC address, thinking that the host would use its own address in the Ethernet frame for communication.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting the remote host’s MAC address as the Ethernet destination for off-subnet traffic. This is incorrect because ARP requests cannot resolve MAC addresses beyond the local subnet. Candidates may confuse IP routing with MAC addressing and assume direct frame delivery to the remote device. The trap lies in overlooking the default gateway’s role as the local next-hop device that receives frames destined for remote IPs. Remember, the host always sends the frame to the gateway’s MAC, not the remote host’s MAC, when the destination is outside the local subnet.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In IP networking, devices communicate on a local subnet using MAC addresses resolved via ARP (Address Resolution Protocol). When a host wants to send a packet to an IP address within its own subnet, it uses ARP to find the MAC address of the destination device and sends the Ethernet frame directly to that MAC. However, if the destination IP is outside the local subnet, the host cannot resolve the remote device's MAC address directly because ARP requests do not cross routers.
The decision process for sending frames to off-subnet destinations involves the default gateway, typically a router interface on the local subnet. The host recognizes the destination IP is outside its subnet by applying its subnet mask and then forwards the frame to the default gateway's MAC address. The IP packet inside the frame still carries the final destination IP, but the Ethernet frame is addressed to the gateway's MAC. This allows the router to receive the frame, route the packet appropriately, and forward it toward the remote destination.
A common exam trap is assuming the host sends the frame directly to the remote host's MAC address. This mistake ignores the role of subnetting and routing in Ethernet frame addressing. Practically, hosts never ARP for off-subnet IPs; they only ARP for the gateway's MAC. Understanding this behavior is crucial for troubleshooting LAN-to-WAN communication and for correctly configuring routing and ARP on Cisco devices.
KKey Concepts to Remember
A host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet.
When the destination IP is outside the local subnet, the host sends frames to the MAC address of its configured default gateway.
The default gateway acts as the next-hop router for all off-subnet traffic from the host.
Ethernet frames carry the MAC address of the next-hop device, while IP packets inside carry the ultimate destination IP address.
Hosts do not ARP for remote IP addresses because ARP requests are limited to the local broadcast domain.
Subnetting determines whether a destination IP is local or remote, influencing MAC address resolution and frame forwarding.
Routers forward packets between subnets by receiving frames addressed to their MAC and routing the encapsulated IP packets accordingly.
Misunderstanding the role of the default gateway MAC address leads to common exam mistakes about frame addressing.
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.
Key takeaway
A host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review a host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — A host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The MAC address of its configured default gateway — When a host wants to send traffic to a different IP subnet, it does not send the frame directly to the remote device’s MAC address. In plain language, the host knows the destination IP is off its local network, so it hands the traffic to the local router. That means the Ethernet frame is addressed to the default gateway’s MAC address, while the IP packet inside still carries the final remote IP destination.
A host uses ARP to learn MAC addresses on its own LAN. Since the remote host is not local, the sender does not ARP for the remote host’s MAC. Instead, it ARPs for the gateway interface on the same subnet.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review a host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
A host uses ARP to resolve MAC addresses only for IP addresses within its local subnet.
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