This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: a /29 subnet mask uses 29 bits for the network portion and leaves 3 bits for host addressing in IPv4.. 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 subnet uses the prefix /29. How many usable host addresses are available in each subnet?
2
Why wrong: This is wrong because 2 usable addresses would be far too small for a /29.
6
This is correct because a /29 has 8 total addresses and 6 usable host addresses.
14
Why wrong: This is wrong because 14 usable hosts would correspond to a /28.
30
Why wrong: This is wrong because 30 usable hosts would correspond to a /27.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
6
A /29 prefix leaves 3 host bits, which creates 8 total addresses per subnet. In plain language, two of those addresses cannot be assigned to hosts because one identifies the subnet itself and one is reserved as the broadcast address. That leaves 6 usable host addresses. This is a standard CCNA calculation because it checks whether you understand both the total address count and the subtraction of the reserved addresses. Many candidates remember powers of two but forget to account for the network and broadcast addresses when the question asks for usable hosts. The safest process is to calculate the total size first and then reduce it by two. That is how you arrive at 6 usable addresses for a /29.
Key principle: A /29 subnet mask uses 29 bits for the network portion and leaves 3 bits for host addressing in IPv4.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
2
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because 2 usable addresses would be far too small for a /29.
When this WOULD be correct
In a hypothetical question asking for the number of usable addresses in a /30 subnet, option A would be correct, as a /30 subnet has 4 total addresses, resulting in 2 usable host addresses.
6
Why this is correct
This is correct because a /29 has 8 total addresses and 6 usable host addresses.
Related concept
A /29 subnet mask uses 29 bits for the network portion and leaves 3 bits for host addressing in IPv4.
14
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because 14 usable hosts would correspond to a /28.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified a /28 subnet instead of /29, then option C would be correct, as a /28 subnet allows for 16 total IP addresses, resulting in 14 usable host addresses after accounting for the network and broadcast addresses.
30
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because 30 usable hosts would correspond to a /27.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different context, if the question asked about a subnet with a prefix of /26, which allows for 62 usable host addresses, option D could be correct. This would require candidates to calculate usable addresses based on a larger subnet size.
Option-by-option analysis
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.
Why this is correct
This is correct because a /29 has 8 total addresses and 6 usable host addresses.
Why this is wrong here
Option A is incorrect because a /29 subnet provides 8 total IP addresses, of which 6 are usable for hosts after accounting for the network and broadcast addresses.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a hypothetical question asking for the number of usable addresses in a /30 subnet, option A would be correct, as a /30 subnet has 4 total addresses, resulting in 2 usable host addresses.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to confusion between the total number of addresses and the usable ones, or they might mistakenly associate /29 with a smaller subnet size like /30, leading to the miscalculation.
Why this is wrong here
Option C is wrong because a /29 subnet provides 8 total IP addresses, of which 6 are usable for hosts after reserving one for the network address and one for the broadcast address.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified a /28 subnet instead of /29, then option C would be correct, as a /28 subnet allows for 16 total IP addresses, resulting in 14 usable host addresses after accounting for the network and broadcast addresses.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might choose option C due to a misunderstanding of subnetting, mistakenly calculating the usable addresses by only considering the total number of addresses without accounting for the reserved network and broadcast addresses.
Why this is wrong here
Option D is incorrect because a /29 subnet provides 8 total IP addresses, of which 6 are usable for hosts after accounting for the network and broadcast addresses. Therefore, stating that there are 30 usable addresses is inaccurate.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different context, if the question asked about a subnet with a prefix of /26, which allows for 62 usable host addresses, option D could be correct. This would require candidates to calculate usable addresses based on a larger subnet size.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose option D due to confusion between the total number of addresses and the usable ones, or they might mistakenly recall common subnet sizes that yield higher usable addresses, leading to an overestimation.
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
Remember to subtract the network and broadcast addresses from the total count to find usable addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
Subnetting divides a larger IP network into smaller, manageable segments called subnets. The prefix length, such as /29, indicates how many bits are used for the network portion of the address, leaving the remaining bits for host addressing. In IPv4, a /29 prefix means 29 bits are fixed for the network, and 3 bits remain for host addresses, since IPv4 addresses are 32 bits total. The total number of addresses in a /29 subnet is 2^3 = 8 addresses. However, two addresses in every subnet are reserved: one for the network identifier (all host bits zero) and one for the broadcast address (all host bits one). This leaves 6 usable host addresses for devices. Cisco CCNA exams expect candidates to calculate usable hosts by subtracting these two reserved addresses from the total. A common exam trap is to confuse total addresses with usable hosts, leading to incorrect answers like 8 or 14. Practically, understanding this distinction is critical for designing IP addressing schemes in Cisco networks, ensuring efficient use of address space and avoiding address conflicts or broadcast issues.
Key takeaway
A /29 subnet mask uses 29 bits for the network portion and leaves 3 bits for host addressing in IPv4.
Real-world example
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
What to study next
Review a /29 subnet mask uses 29 bits for the network portion and leaves 3 bits for host addressing in IPv4., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — A /29 subnet mask uses 29 bits for the network portion and leaves 3 bits for host addressing in IPv4..
The correct answer is: 6 — A /29 prefix leaves 3 host bits, which creates 8 total addresses per subnet. In plain language, two of those addresses cannot be assigned to hosts because one identifies the subnet itself and one is reserved as the broadcast address. That leaves 6 usable host addresses. This is a standard CCNA calculation because it checks whether you understand both the total address count and the subtraction of the reserved addresses. Many candidates remember powers of two but forget to account for the network and broadcast addresses when the question asks for usable hosts. The safest process is to calculate the total size first and then reduce it by two. That is how you arrive at 6 usable addresses for a /29.
Review a /29 subnet mask uses 29 bits for the network portion and leaves 3 bits for host addressing in IPv4., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
A /29 subnet mask uses 29 bits for the network portion and leaves 3 bits for host addressing in IPv4.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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