CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. 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: subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address.. 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 with IP address 172.16.50.130 and mask 255.255.255.192 needs to reach 172.16.50.190. Which statement is correct?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The destination is local, so the host ARPs for 172.16.50.190 directly.
Both 172.16.50.130 and 172.16.50.190 fall within the 172.16.50.128/26 subnet (range .128 to .191). Therefore, the destination is local, and the host will use ARP to resolve the destination IP directly. Option A is incorrect because the destination is not remote. Option C is incorrect because the directed broadcast address for this subnet is 172.16.50.191, not .190. Option D is incorrect because 172.16.50.130 is a valid host address, not the network address (.128).
Key principle: Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address.
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 destination is on a remote subnet, so the host must send to the default gateway.
Why it's wrong here
Both addresses fall in the same /26 subnet.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the host's IP address is 172.16.50.130 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.128, and the destination IP is 172.16.51.190, the destination would be on a different subnet, requiring the host to send packets to the default gateway.
✓
The destination is local, so the host ARPs for 172.16.50.190 directly.
Why this is correct
Correct. Same-subnet traffic is sent directly to the destination MAC.
Related concept
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address.
✗
The destination is a directed broadcast for the local subnet.
Why it's wrong here
.190 is a usable host address in this subnet.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that the host's subnet mask was 255.255.255.128, making the subnet range 172.16.50.128 to 172.16.50.255, then 172.16.50.190 would be a directed broadcast address for the subnet 172.16.50.128/25, making this option correct.
✗
The source host is using the network address of the subnet.
Why it's wrong here
.130 is also a usable host address.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that the host's IP address is 172.16.50.128 with the same subnet mask, option D would be correct, as 172.16.50.128 is indeed the network address of the subnet 172.16.50.128/26.
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 destination is local, so the host ARPs for 172.16.50.190 directly.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. Same-subnet traffic is sent directly to the destination MAC.
✗The destination is on a remote subnet, so the host must send to the default gateway.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because the destination IP 172.16.50.190 is within the same subnet as the source IP 172.16.50.130, so the host does not need to send packets to the default gateway to reach it.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the host's IP address is 172.16.50.130 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.128, and the destination IP is 172.16.51.190, the destination would be on a different subnet, requiring the host to send packets to the default gateway.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of subnetting, leading them to incorrectly assume that any IP outside the first three octets must be on a different subnet.
✗The destination is a directed broadcast for the local subnet.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because 172.16.50.190 is within the same subnet as the host 172.16.50.130, meaning it does not require a directed broadcast to reach it.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that the host's subnet mask was 255.255.255.128, making the subnet range 172.16.50.128 to 172.16.50.255, then 172.16.50.190 would be a directed broadcast address for the subnet 172.16.50.128/25, making this option correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to confusion about subnetting and broadcast addresses, leading them to incorrectly assume that any address outside the host's IP is a broadcast address.
✗The source host is using the network address of the subnet.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is incorrect because the source host's IP address (172.16.50.130) is not the network address of its subnet; the network address is 172.16.50.128. Therefore, the host is using a valid IP address within its subnet.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that the host's IP address is 172.16.50.128 with the same subnet mask, option D would be correct, as 172.16.50.128 is indeed the network address of the subnet 172.16.50.128/26.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may be tempted by this option due to a misunderstanding of subnetting concepts, leading them to incorrectly identify valid host addresses as network addresses.
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
Be cautious of subnet mask calculations and ensure you understand the IP range it defines.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting is a fundamental concept in IP networking that segments a larger network into smaller, manageable subnets by applying a subnet mask. The subnet mask determines which bits of the IP address represent the network and which represent the host. In this question, the mask 255.255.255.192 corresponds to a /26 prefix length, meaning the first 26 bits are network bits and the remaining 6 bits are host bits. This creates subnets with 64 addresses each, including network and broadcast addresses, allowing for 62 usable host IPs per subnet.
When a host needs to communicate with another IP address, it first checks if the destination IP falls within its own subnet range by performing a bitwise AND operation between the IP address and the subnet mask. If the destination is within the same subnet, the host sends an ARP request to resolve the MAC address of the destination IP and communicates directly at Layer 2. If the destination is outside the subnet, the host forwards the packet to its default gateway, which routes the traffic to the appropriate remote network.
A common exam trap is confusing the subnet boundaries and assuming the destination is remote when it is actually local, or vice versa. For example, 172.16.50.130 and 172.16.50.190 both fall within the 172.16.50.128/26 subnet (range 172.16.50.128 to 172.16.50.191). Misinterpreting this causes the host to send traffic to the default gateway unnecessarily, which can lead to communication failure or inefficiency. Understanding subnet ranges and host usability is critical for correct routing and ARP behavior in Cisco networks.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address.
A /26 subnet mask (255.255.255.192) creates subnets with 64 IP addresses each, including network and broadcast addresses.
Hosts determine if a destination IP is local or remote by comparing the subnet of the destination address with their own subnet.
If the destination IP is within the same subnet, the host sends an ARP request to resolve the MAC address and communicates directly.
If the destination IP is outside the subnet, the host forwards packets to the default gateway for routing to remote networks.
The usable host IP range excludes the network address (first IP) and broadcast address (last IP) of the subnet.
Misidentifying a remote host as local leads to failed communication because ARP requests will not resolve addresses outside the subnet.
Correct subnetting knowledge is essential for routing decisions and efficient network traffic flow in Cisco environments.
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
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address.
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 subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The destination is local, so the host ARPs for 172.16.50.190 directly. — Both 172.16.50.130 and 172.16.50.190 fall within the 172.16.50.128/26 subnet (range .128 to .191). Therefore, the destination is local, and the host will use ARP to resolve the destination IP directly. Option A is incorrect because the destination is not remote. Option C is incorrect because the directed broadcast address for this subnet is 172.16.50.191, not .190. Option D is incorrect because 172.16.50.130 is a valid host address, not the network address (.128).
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller logical segments by applying a subnet mask to determine network and host portions of the address.
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