CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
A network administrator is configuring a Cisco switch. The switch has a management VLAN 99 with IP address 10.10.99.5/24 and default gateway 10.10.99.1. The administrator wants to verify that the switch can reach a server at 10.10.99.100. Which command should be used on the switch to test reachability?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the display of routing or interface information with an active connectivity test.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
ping 10.10.99.100
To verify reachability to a specific IP address from a Cisco switch, the ping command is the correct tool. It sends ICMP echo requests and waits for replies, providing immediate feedback on whether the destination is reachable. Other commands like show ip interface brief or show ip route only display configuration or routing information and do not test actual connectivity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
show ip route
Why it's wrong here
The show ip route command displays the routing table, which can confirm that a route to the destination exists. However, it does not actively test reachability. A route could be present but the next-hop device might be down. Therefore, it is not a substitute for an active reachability test like ping.
- ✗
show ip interface brief
Why it's wrong here
The show ip interface brief command displays interface status and IP addresses, but it does not test connectivity to a remote host. It only confirms local configuration. It cannot verify that the server at 10.10.99.100 is reachable. This command is useful for checking that the management interface is up, but not for testing end-to-end reachability.
- ✗
traceroute 10.10.99.100
Why it's wrong here
Traceroute identifies the path packets take to a destination, but it is not the primary tool to simply test reachability. It can be used, but it provides more detailed hop-by-hop information and may be blocked by firewalls. For a basic reachability test, ping is more appropriate and faster. Traceroute would be used if ping fails and you need to locate where the path breaks.
- ✓
ping 10.10.99.100
Why this is correct
The ping command on a Cisco switch sends ICMP echo requests to the specified IP address and reports replies, directly testing reachability. Since the switch has an IP address in the same subnet as the server, the ping will be sourced from VLAN 99 interface and should succeed if connectivity exists. This is the standard method to verify Layer 3 connectivity from a switch.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Cisco IOS ACL Syntax Reference
Key term
ICMP
ICMP is a network-layer protocol used by network devices to send error messages and operational information about network connectivity.
Key term
Ping
Ping is a network utility used to test whether a remote computer or device is reachable across an IP network and to measure the round-trip time of data packets.
About these practice questions
One of 1,450 original 200-301 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.