CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of switching and network access. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 phone and PC share one switchport. The phone registers successfully, but the workstation receives an address from the wrong subnet. Which explanation is strongest?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The workstation is likely in the wrong data VLAN even though the phone is in the correct voice VLAN.
Option A is correct because the phone and PC share a single switchport configured with separate voice and data VLANs. The phone successfully registers in the voice VLAN, but the workstation receives an IP address from the wrong subnet, indicating it is placed in an incorrect data VLAN. This typically occurs when the switchport's access VLAN (data VLAN) is misconfigured or mismatched with the workstation's expected subnet, while the voice VLAN (often using 802.1Q tagging) is correctly set for the phone.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 workstation is likely in the wrong data VLAN even though the phone is in the correct voice VLAN.
Why this is correct
This is correct because voice and data can use different VLAN roles on the same physical port.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
If the phone works, the data VLAN must also be correct automatically.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because voice and data VLAN behavior is separated.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a question states that both the phone and workstation are configured to use the same VLAN, and the phone registers successfully while the workstation fails to get an IP address, option B could be correct, indicating that the data VLAN is indeed functioning properly.
✗
The problem must be CAPWAP because phones require AP controllers.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the scenario is wired edge switching, not wireless controller operation.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question involves a wireless phone that connects to a network through an AP (Access Point) managed by a controller, and the question asks about issues related to phone registration and CAPWAP, this option could be correct if it were established that the phone's registration was failing due to CAPWAP misconfiguration.
✗
The phone registration proves that DHCP cannot be the issue for the PC.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because the PC can still be assigned within the wrong VLAN or wrong scope.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario, if a question states that both the phone and PC are on the same VLAN and the phone registers successfully while the PC fails to obtain an address, then this option could be correct, suggesting that DHCP is functioning properly for the phone but not for the PC due to other issues.
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 workstation is likely in the wrong data VLAN even though the phone is in the correct voice VLAN.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because voice and data can use different VLAN roles on the same physical port.
✗If the phone works, the data VLAN must also be correct automatically.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This statement is incorrect because voice and data VLANs are independent on a switchport configured with separate VLANs. The phone successfully registering on the voice VLAN does not guarantee that the data VLAN is correctly configured; the PC could still be assigned to a different VLAN or subnet due to misconfiguration.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a question states that both the phone and workstation are configured to use the same VLAN, and the phone registers successfully while the workstation fails to get an IP address, option B could be correct, indicating that the data VLAN is indeed functioning properly.
Why candidates choose this
A student might think that if the phone works, the entire port configuration is correct, overlooking that the phone and PC use different VLANs. This confusion arises from not understanding that a single port can carry multiple VLANs with separate configurations.
✗The problem must be CAPWAP because phones require AP controllers.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) is a protocol used for wireless LAN controller and access point communication, not for wired switchport configuration. The scenario describes a wired phone and PC sharing a switchport, which is unrelated to wireless controllers.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question involves a wireless phone that connects to a network through an AP (Access Point) managed by a controller, and the question asks about issues related to phone registration and CAPWAP, this option could be correct if it were established that the phone's registration was failing due to CAPWAP misconfiguration.
Why candidates choose this
Students might confuse the phone (IP phone) with a wireless access point, or think that any phone registration involves CAPWAP. However, IP phones typically use PoE and VLAN configuration on switches, not CAPWAP.
✗The phone registration proves that DHCP cannot be the issue for the PC.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The phone's successful registration does not rule out DHCP issues for the PC. The PC could be receiving an IP address from a DHCP server that is on the wrong subnet or VLAN, or the DHCP relay might be misconfigured for the data VLAN. The phone's DHCP success is independent of the PC's DHCP process.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario, if a question states that both the phone and PC are on the same VLAN and the phone registers successfully while the PC fails to obtain an address, then this option could be correct, suggesting that DHCP is functioning properly for the phone but not for the PC due to other issues.
Why candidates choose this
A student might assume that if DHCP works for one device on the same port, it should work for all devices. However, because the phone and PC are on different VLANs, they may use different DHCP servers or scopes, and the PC's DHCP request might be handled incorrectly.
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
Cisco often tests the misconception that if the phone works, the entire port configuration is correct, but the trap here is that the voice and data VLANs are independent, so a misconfigured access VLAN can still cause the PC to receive an incorrect IP address.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
This is wrong because the scenario is wired edge switching, not wireless controller operation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
On a Cisco switchport configured with 'switchport voice vlan' and 'switchport access vlan', the phone uses 802.1Q tagging for voice traffic, while the PC uses the untagged access VLAN. If the access VLAN ID does not match the subnet expected by the workstation's DHCP server, the PC will receive an incorrect IP address. A common real-world scenario is when the access VLAN is left at the default VLAN 1 instead of being set to the correct data VLAN, causing the PC to get an address from the wrong subnet.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Switching and Network Access — This question tests Switching and Network Access — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The workstation is likely in the wrong data VLAN even though the phone is in the correct voice VLAN. — Option A is correct because the phone and PC share a single switchport configured with separate voice and data VLANs. The phone successfully registers in the voice VLAN, but the workstation receives an IP address from the wrong subnet, indicating it is placed in an incorrect data VLAN. This typically occurs when the switchport's access VLAN (data VLAN) is misconfigured or mismatched with the workstation's expected subnet, while the voice VLAN (often using 802.1Q tagging) is correctly set for the phone.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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